Possible Etiology and Voice Analysis of Reinke's Edema / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Reinkes edema is characterized by swelling of the vocal folds, and its etiology and pathogenesis have not yet been established. OBJECTS AND METHODS: We reviewed medical records of 25 patients (14 male and 11 female) who had undergone operation from 1996 to 1998. Post-operative voice lab and skin prick tests were done after 3 months when patients visited hospital. Telephone questionnaires were carried out about smoking and laryngopharyngeal reflux. RESULTS: In the smoking pattern, most patients (18/25) smoked more than 10 packs a year. Twelve patients (48%) complained of laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms and 4 patients were positive for the skin prick test, Pre- and post-operative voice lab results showed that shimmer and phonation time changed significantly in women patients. Jitter, shimmer, phonation time, mean flow rate, vocal efficiency and subglottic pressure changed significantly in men patients. CONCLUSION: Smoking and laryngopharyngeal reflux may play an important role in developing Reinkes edema and phonatory quality will be improved after proper surgical procedure.