Is this throat scarring?

Question

Asked for Male, 27 Years

I did smoke for like 7 months and have stopped it. So, went to the ENT who said you have a scarring throat. Told me to stop smoking and gave me protein pump inhibitors. But I failed to tell her that I have DNS too. I was worried about having cancer because of smoking these past 6 months but she said no need to worry about it but said to stop smoking otherwise it will increase the risk. Here is the image of the throat, is it really throat scarring ? Thanks

Answers (2)

20000+ health queries resolved in last month

Dr. Rekha

ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon 7 yrs exp Bangalore

Not scarring of throat. Drink plenty of water. Stop smoking

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Dr. Atul Kumar Nimawat ENT/ Otorhinolaryngologist 6 yrs exp Udaipur · Accepted Answer

Dr. Atul Kumar Nimawat

ENT/ Otorhinolaryngologist 6 yrs exp Udaipur

Hi, I am Dr. Atul Kumar Nimawat MS ENT From the throat image provided, the posterior pharyngeal wall appears to be granular, mildly congested, and with mucosal thickening—features suggestive of chronic pharyngitis, possibly due to: • Smoking-induced mucosal irritation • Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) • Mouth breathing secondary to DNS • Environmental allergens or pollutants The ENT specialist’s diagnosis of “scarring throat” likely refers to chronic inflammatory changes or pharyngeal mucosal atrophy from prolonged irritation, not a scar in the surgical or injury sense.

Next Steps

No signs of malignancy are visible in the image. • The history of short-term smoking (7 months) is unlikely to cause throat cancer, though it can cause significant mucosal irritation. • DNS (Deviated Nasal Septum) can contribute to mouth breathing, leading to drying and irritation of the throat. • Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are effective for LPR-related throat irritation and should be continued as advised.

Health Tips

1. Continue PPI medication as prescribed (e.g., pantoprazole or omeprazole before meals). 2. Avoid smoking permanently, even passive smoke exposure. 3. Hydrate well and avoid irritants like spicy food, alcohol, or very hot/cold beverages. 4. Steam inhalation and saline gargles can provide local relief.