Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-ttngx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-09T05:50:41.137Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Reinke's oedema and thyroid function

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

A. White ,
D. W. Sim  and
A. G. D. Maran
A. White
Affiliation:
Edinburgh
D. W. Sim*
Affiliation:
Edinburgh
A. G. D. Maran
Affiliation:
Edinburgh
*
Dr D. W. Sim, Department of Otolaryngology, Lauriston Building, The Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh EH3 9EN.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Reinke's oedema (RO) of the vocal folds is a condition of unknown aetiology. Cigarette smoking and vocal abuse may contribute to its development. Hypo thy roidism has been described as an aetiological factor but, to date, no controlled study has been published confirming this association. This prospective, controlled study compared thyroid function in 61 consecutive RO patients with an age and sex matched control group (n = 65) without laryngeal disease. Thyroid function was assessed by measuring serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (T4) and tri-iodothyronine (T3). Hypothyroidism was diagnosed when TSH was above normal with a T3 and T4 below the normal range.

Four RO patients were hypothyroid at the time of diagnosis, compared to five of the control group. Six RO patients had past or present hypothyroidism compared to seven of the controls. One RO patient and two controls were euthyroid with marginally elevated TSH levels. Although the incidence of hypothyroidism in this group of Reinke's oedema patients is higher than expected in a normal population, it is similar to that in an age and sex matched control group, reflecting the prevalence of hypothyroidism in middle aged women.

This study suggests that hypothyroidism is not an aetiological factor in the development of Reinke's oedema.

Keywords

Vocal cordoedema (Reinke)Myxoedema
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 105 , Issue 4 , April 1991 , pp. 291 - 292
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ballenger, J. J. (1977) In: Diseases of the Nose, Throat and Ear. 12th edition. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, p 406–407.Google Scholar
Bicknell, P. G. (1973) Mild hypothyroidism and its effects on the larynx. Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 87: 123–127.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hajek, M. (1925) Beitrage zur Anatomie der stimmlippen. Zeitschrift fur Hals-Nasen und Ohrenheilkunde, 13: 161–172.Google Scholar
Hilger, J. (1956) Otolaryngologic aspects of hypometabolism. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology, 65: 395–413.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ishii, H. (1966) A consideration on the genesis of the polypoid vocal cord (polypoid degeneration of the vocal cord). Journal of Otolaryngology of Japan, 69: 199–205.Google ScholarPubMed
Kawase, N., Sawashima, M., Hirose, H., Ushijima, T., Yoshioka, H. (1982) A statistical study of vocal cord nodule, vocal cord polyp and polypoid vocal cord: with special reference to physical and social histories of the patients. Otolaryngology (Tokyo), 54: 683–688.Google Scholar
Kleinsasser, O. (1968) In: Microlaryngoscopy and Endolaryngeal Microsurgery. W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia, p. 48–54.Google Scholar
Larson, P. S., Haag, H. B., Finnegan, J. K. (1947) Studies on cigarette smoke irritation. I: Determination of edema-producing properties of certain types of cigarette tobaccos. Proceedings of Society of Experimental Biology (New York), 64: 476–478.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Maloney, W. H. (1960) Laryngeal manifestations of systemic disease. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology, 69: 421–426.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Matsuo, K., Hirano, M., Kasuya, T., Kurita, S. (1980) Polypoid vocal fold. A review of 97 cases. Practical Otologica (Kyoto), 73: 1187–1198.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moesgaard Nielsen, V., Hojslet, M. D., Karlmose, M. (1986) Surgical treatment of Reinke's oedema. Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 100: 187–190.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pau, H. W. (1985) Vascular architecture of the vocal cord surfaces. A fluorescence angiography study. Laryngology, Rhinology and Otology (Stuttgart), 64(8): 405–408.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Reinke, F. (1895) Untersuchungen uber das menschliche Stimmband. Fortschritte der Medicin, 13: 469–478.Google Scholar