Reinke's Oedema Polypoid Chorditis

Reinke's Edema (Polypoid Chorditis)

Reinke's oedema (polypoid corditis) is a vocal cord disease characterised by the accumulation of a dark, jelly-like fluid just beneath the surface epithelium of the vocal cords. You can click on the video link below to see the appearance of the vocal cords in a patient with Reinke's oedema.

How does polypoid corditis occur and what are the causes?

The most important factors in the development of the disease are smoking (tobacco use), laryngopharyngeal reflux (escape of stomach acid back into the throat) and prolonged overuse or misuse of the voice. Recurrent or chronic upper respiratory tract infections and frequent throat clearing are also considered additional factors contributing to Reinke's oedema.

What are the Symptoms of Polypoid Chorditis (Reinke's Edema)? Is Reinke's Edema Dangerous?

The volume and mass of the vocal cords increase. This thickens the pitch of the voice. The voice is thicker than normal. In female patients, the voice may sound more masculine. During speaking and singing, the voice may be irregular, unstable and lower than normal. There may be difficulty in producing sound, fatigue after talking for a long time, and a feeling of needing to exert more effort while talking.

Surgical Treatment of Vocal Cords

The main method of treatment is surgery ( fonomikrosurrahi ). Issues contributing to the pathology should be addressed before and after surgery: quitting tobacco use, adopting a lifestyle focussed on vocal hygiene, following a reflux diet and using relevant medical treatments. After surgery performed by an experienced surgeon, if these issues are addressed, the pathology is unlikely to recur.

Reinke's Edema - Follow-up and Prognosis

There is a significant improvement in the voice after the operation. If the above-mentioned aspects of vocal hygiene are observed, the voice quality can remain good for a very long time.