2023 Volume 163 Pages 32-36
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of surgical treatment for Reinke’s edema on the voice quality and vocal fold vibrations.
Method: We reviewed the data of 40 cases of Reinke’s edema who were treated surgically at our hospital between 2001 and 2019. Reinke’s edema was classified into three types, Type I, Type II and Type III, according to the classification proposed by Yonekawa. Results of psychoacoustic evaluation using the GRBAS scale, preoperative laryngeal findings, surgical procedure selected, perioperative findings, and results of pre- and postoperative phonatory function examinations (aerodynamic study and acoustic voice analysis) were investigated retrospectively.
Results: Of the 40 cases, 6 were classified as Type I, 18 as Type II and 16 as Type III. The condition was multilocular in 6 cases. In all cases, the results of psychoacoustic evaluation and phonatory function improved significantly after the surgery. Furthermore, the degree of improvement was greater in Type II and Type III cases. Type III cases, and cases with multilocular swelling, mucosal lesions and/or subepithelial adhesions showed poor vocal fold vibrations after the surgery.
Conclusion: We consider that surgical treatment is the most appropriate for Type II and Type III cases, and in Type III cases, multilocular swelling, and presence of mucosal lesions and subepithelial adhesions might be risk factors for vocal fold insufficiency after the surgery.
