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
lesions that generally form at the middle of one or both vocal folds. In normal vocal folds the blood vessels run in a parallel direction to the free edges of the vocal fold. A person with Reinke’s Edema has abnormal vocal folds that display an assortment of positions, patterns, and irregular shapes and an increased amount of vessel production (Ferrand 2012, p.285).
The abnormal vocal fold structured of Reinke’s Edema is most likely caused by smoking; Jovanovic et al.(2009) projected that tobacco smoke could decline the pace as which blood flows through the vessels, which increases the chance of thrombosis. Furthermore, edema can result in abnormal blood supply to tissue, which affects the ability of the vocal folds to undergo the repair and remodeling process. Reinke’s Edema can also be caused by chronic voice abuse, conditions that irritate the vocal folds such as backflow of stomach fluids to the voice box, or drinking alcohol in excessive amounts.
Reinke’s Edema most commonly strikes middle-aged-post-menopausal females who have a long-standing history of smoking cigarettes.
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
stridor.
Treatment for Reinke’s Edema depends on the severity of the problem. Initially the client will be asked to change their behavior. In example: stop smoking, treat reflux, and stop voice misuse. Several reports have documented resolutions RE with voice behavioral therapy. Some of the approaches for voice therapy are: vocal hygiene and very direct techniques to improve vocal production. After the therapy is used as a first approach it will improve symptoms and reduce the swelling. The last approach would be laser surgery, in the Office-Based Photoangiolytic Laser Treatment of Reinke’s Edema: Safety and Voice Outcomes Journal there was a research done on patient’s that were treated with laser treatment. The results turned out on the positive side, most of the patient’s stopped smoking after they were cured and the ones that didn’t stop had a reoccurring problem.
Even Reinke’s Edema develops slowly over the course of many years; the abnormal vocal folds can worsen to the point of causing problems with breathing and needed immediate surgery. Many times smokers want to ignore the problem because they don’t want to quit smoking but getting treated is extremely important. After surgery is done voice rest is required that is then followed by voice therapy to stop the inflammation from reoccurring. Like many voice disorders, it can be easily controlled if treated early.