Reinke's Edema Research Paper

One’s occupation and personality are factors that play a significant role in numerous disorders of the vocal folds. Vocal fatigue, nodules, polyps, leukoplakia, contact ulcers, vocal fold hemorrhage, and granuloma are all voice disorders that can be acquired from vocal abuse and vocal misuse. For example, many times we associate smoking with lung cancer, which makes it easy to oversee other troubles that can tag along like Polypoid Degeneration also known as Reinke’s Edema.
Stated in Voice Disorders: Scope of Theory and Practice (Ferrand 2012) “Polyps are benign growths on the vocal fold mucosa that may result from laryngeal hyperfunction…” (p. 283). Despite the similar name, Polypoid Degeneration or Reinke’s Edema is not like a polyp. It is a chronic inflammatory disease in which the entire membranous portion of the vocal folds becomes infiltrated with thick, gelatinous fluid (Martins, Fabro, Domingues, Chi, and Gregorio, 2009). Reinke’s Edema is irregular swelling and “ballooning” on the entire length of both vocal folds. The vocal folds display a white and translucent edema, into the superficial lamina propria. The inflammation is usually bilateral but frequently asymmetric in volume, and very mobile during phonation; while polyps are distinctive
The symptoms fully depend on the extent and placement of the inflammation. If the inflammation is so great that it interferes with vocal fold vibration and adduction, dysphonia will result. The dysphonia is normally categorized by a breathy and hoarse quality along with a low pitch, since the vocal folds are very thick. A patient with Reinke’s Edema may frequently complain about a swollen sensation on throat along with pain and stubborn throat clearing. When Reinke’s Edema is paired with very large polyps it can result with an obstruction of the airway with dyspnea on exertion and