Reinke's edema is a benign polypoid degeneration of the vocal cords, commonly caused by smoking, voice abuse, acid reflux, and myxedema. It can be graded from minimal to obstructive based on the size of the edema, with symptoms including dysphonia and potential respiratory distress. Treatment involves avoiding risk factors, using steroids, and surgical options for severe cases, though dysphonia may improve but not fully normalize.

1. Reinke’s Edema
Dr Shrikant Phatak
Head of ENT Department
Choithram Hospital & Research Center
Indore

2. .• Reinke’s space is a
potential space of the true
vocal cord bounded above
and below by the
junctions of squamous
with respiratory
epithelium, anteriorly by
the anterior commissure,
and posteriorly by the tip
of the vocal process of the
arytenoid. Edema of this
space is called Reinke's
edema

3. Reinke’s Edema
Benign polypoid degeneration
of the vocal cord.
Can be unilateral or bilateral
Commonest causative risk
factors are
1.Smoking
2.Voice Abuse
3.Acid Reflux
4.Myxoedema
Bilateral Reinki’s edema

4. Grades of Reinke’s Edema
• Grade1 –minimal polypoid
change involving up to 25%
of the membranous cord
• Grade2—Expanded
polypoid lesion affecting
25—50% of the vocal cord
• Grade3 --Expanded
polypoid lesion affecting 50-
75% of the glottic airway
• Grade4—Obstructive lesion
involving more than 75% of
the glottic airway

5. Clinical Features
• Depend on the size of oedema .
• Edema is confined to the membranous vocal
cord the commonest presenting feature is
• Dysphonia
• May or may not be associated Dyspnea & in
rare cases Respiratory Distress

6. Stroboscopy Appearance
Bilateral asymmetric oedema Unilateral oedema
Oedema is best visualized during inspiration

7. Treatment
• Avoidance of risk factors
• Smoking
• Voice Abuse
• Riflux .
• Inhalational & oral steroids .

8. Surgical Treatment
• Indicated in case of no response to conservative
treatment or when the oedema causes dyspnea.
• Aim is to excise redundant polypoid tissue &
avoiding postop stiffening & a bad voice.
• Avoiding post op anterior web formation
• Surgery in selected cases.CO2 LASER,
• Microdebrider Cold instruments.
• Regardless of technique dysphonia improves but
never normalizes.

9. Thank you

10. Disclaimer
• The information contained in the presentation is based on the personal
experience and cases collected at Choithram Hospital Indore over the last
20 years.
• It is intended for the use of Medical students ENT post graduates.
• The views expressed are purely on personal opinion. viewers can make
their own opinion. For any confusion please contact sole author.
• Everybody is allowed to copy or download the material best suited to him.
I am not responsible for any controversies arising out of the presentation.
• For any suggestions or corrections you may please contact
phatak_shrikant@yahoo.in