OBJECTIVE: To establish the relationship between the macroscopic and histologic diagnosis of nodules, polyps, and Reinke's edema of the true vocal folds and to propose a clearer clinical definition of them in the hope of settling the difference of opinion between otolaryngologists and pathologists. DESIGN: Retrospective study SETTING: Otolaryngology Department of "La Sapienza" University of Rome. METHODS: The pathologic reports of 203 patients subjected to direct laryngoscopy were studied. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Examination of the histologic specimen of the epithelium and the chorion. RESULTS: Microscopic examination revealed a high percentage of normal epithelium both for nodules (33.79%) and polyps (40.65%). No dysplasia was observed, whereas dysplasia was present in 10 cases of Reinke's edema (7 laryngeal intraepithelial neoplasia 1 and 3 laryngeal intraepithelial neoplasia II). Five different stages of histologic progression resulted from the examination of the chorion in both nodules and polyps. CONCLUSIONS: Our suggestion is to consider polyps as "older" lesions and nodules as "younger" lesions. A polyp may be defined as an abnormal unilateral growth of vocal folds, a nodule as a bilateral growth situated between the anterior and medium third of the vocal fold, and Reinke's edema as a bilateral wound that extends to the whole of the true vocal fold.
OBJECTIVE: To establish the relationship between the macroscopic and histologic diagnosis of nodules, polyps, and Reinke's edema of the true vocal folds and to propose a clearer clinical definition of them in the hope of settling the difference of opinion between otolaryngologists and pathologists. DESIGN: Retrospective study SETTING: Otolaryngology Department of "La Sapienza" University of Rome. METHODS: The pathologic reports of 203 patients subjected to direct laryngoscopy were studied. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Examination of the histologic specimen of the epithelium and the chorion. RESULTS: Microscopic examination revealed a high percentage of normal epithelium both for nodules (33.79%) and polyps (40.65%). No dysplasia was observed, whereas dysplasia was present in 10 cases of Reinke's edema (7 laryngeal intraepithelial neoplasia 1 and 3 laryngeal intraepithelial neoplasia II). Five different stages of histologic progression resulted from the examination of the chorion in both nodules and polyps. CONCLUSIONS: Our suggestion is to consider polyps as "older" lesions and nodules as "younger" lesions. A polyp may be defined as an abnormal unilateral growth of vocal folds, a nodule as a bilateral growth situated between the anterior and medium third of the vocal fold, and Reinke's edema as a bilateral wound that extends to the whole of the true vocal fold.
Authors: Cara E Stepp; James T Heaton; Tara K Stadelman-Cohen; Maia N Braden; Marie E Jetté; Robert E Hillman Journal: J Voice Date: 2011-01-08 Impact factor: 2.009
Authors: Kwang Jae Cho; Inn Chul Nam; Yeon Shin Hwang; Mi Ran Shim; Jun Ook Park; Jung Hae Cho; Young Hoon Joo; Min Sik Kim; Dong Il Sun Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2011-05-06 Impact factor: 2.503
Authors: A Hantzakos; M Remacle; F G Dikkers; J-C Degols; M Delos; G Friedrich; A Giovanni; N Rasmussen Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2008-11-21 Impact factor: 2.503