RESEARCH ARTICLE


https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10023-1168
International Journal of Phonosurgery and Laryngology
Volume 9 | Issue 1 | Year 2019

Importance of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux in the Incidence of Benign Vocal Folds’ Lesions


Anna Salwa

Department of Otolaryngology, 5th Military Hospital, Cracow, Poland

Corresponding Author: Anna Salwa, Department of Otolaryngology, 5th Military Hospital, Cracow, Poland, Phone: +48 504818554, e-mail: anna.salwa.05@gmail.com

How to cite this article Salwa A. Importance of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux in the Incidence of Benign Vocal Folds’ Lesions. Int J Phonosurg Laryngol 2019;9(1):6–8.

Source of support: Nil

Conflict of interest: None

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is defined as the retrograde flow of gastric contents to the upper respiratory tract causing mucosal damage.

Objectives: The study aims to determine the relationship between the incidence of LPR and the presence of benign lesions of the vocal folds.

Materials and methods: Using the reflux finding score (RFS), we determined the incidence of the LPR in patients with changes such as Reinke’s edema, polyps, and granulomas of the vocal folds.

Results: The prevalence of pathologic LPR was 25% in the control group, 81% in the Reinke’s edema group, 60% in the vocal folds granulomas group, and 41% in the vocal cord polyps group. The most common manifestation of the LPR in the videolaryngoscopic examination is hypertrophy of the posterior commissure, which is anatomically explained by the closest location to the esophagus.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the LPR might be an etiologic factor in Reinke’s edema, polyps, and granulomas of the vocal folds.

Keywords: Granuloma, Laryngopharyngeal reflux, Reflux finding score, Reinke’s edema, Vocal cord polyps.

INTRODUCTION

Approximately, 15% of patients presenting in an otolaryngologist’s office is suffering from laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).1,2 Patients usually present completely different symptoms than those in the gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). According to Koufman, most common symptoms are dysphonia or hoarseness, cough, foreign body sensation in the throat, throat clearing, and dysphagia.1,3,4 Acid reflux of gastric contents into the larynx contributes to the relatively rapid deterioration of the mucosa due to less developed defense mechanisms as compared with the esophageal mucosa.1,3 The LPR can manifest itself in different ways during videolaryngoscopic examination. To assess the severity of the LPR, Belafsky developed the reflux finding score (RFS). The parameters included in the scale are presented in Table 1. The patients with scores above seven points have a 95% probability of presenting LPR.1,5 The scale has high reproducibility and can be used to assess the effectiveness of antireflux treatment.5 The study aimed to determine the relationship between LPR and the occurrence of changes such as Reinke’s edema, vocal cord polyps, and laryngeal granulomas.

Table 1: Reflux finding score—point value from 0 to 26, RFS > 7 = LPRD
Laryngoscopic findingsScore
Subglottic edema0—absent, 2—present
Ventricular obliteration2—partial, 4—complete
Erythema/hyperemia2—arytenoids only, 4—diffuse
Vocal fold edema1—mild, 2—moderate, 3—severe, 4—polypoid
Diffuse laryngeal edema1—mild, 2—moderate, 3—severe, 4—obstructing
Posterior comissure hypertrophy1—mild, 2—moderate, 3—severe, 4—obstructing
Granuloma/granulation0—absent, 2—present
Thick endolaryngeal mucus0—absent, 2—present

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The group of respondents consisted of 63 persons with pathologic conditions include Reinke’s edema (21 cases), vocal cord polyps (27 cases), and granulomas (15 cases); additionally, the control group has been determined (16 cases). Exclusion criteria from the study group were defined as the following: consumption of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) or H2 blockers and previously diagnosed the GERD or LPR. The control group inclusion criteria were the following: no laryngeal benign or malignant masses in the actual laryngoscopy, no history of previously observed laryngeal tumors, videolaryngoscopy was performed as a routine admission test (mostly patients for the septoplasty procedure). An analysis of videolaryngoscopic findings was performed using the RFS.

RESULTS

Results confirming the LPR in the RFS scale was observed in 80.95% of patients with Reinke’s edema, 60% of patients with granuloma of the larynx, and 40.74% with the vocal cord polyps compared with the control group, where a positive result was achieved in 25% of patients (Figs 1 and 2).

The absolute value of the correlation coefficient was measured in these groups of patients. The weak positive correlation was observed between Reinke’s edema and LPR (r = 0.26, p = 0.01), and no association was found in the group of granuloma and polyps. The weak negative correlation was observed between the control group and LPR (r = −0.24, p = 0.02), which means that the LPR is less common in the control group than in any other group (Fig. 3).

Fig. 1: Reinke’s edema (visible posterior commissure hypertrophy and vocal fold edema)

Fig. 3: The presence of laryngopharyngeal reflux in the studied diseases

Fig. 2: Vocal cord polyp (visible subglottic edema)

Fig. 4: The incidence of parameters included in the reflux finding score scale

The most common parameters of the scale RFS noticed in the group of subjects with the positive test result were posterior commissure hypertrophy (96.77% of respondents), vocal fold edema (87.10%), and subglottic edema (70.97%).

Further parameters according to the frequency are erythema/hyperemia of the mucosa (48.39%), ventricular obliteration (45.16%), diffuse laryngeal edema (35.48%), presence of a granuloma/granulation (25.81%), and presence of thick endolaryngeal mucus (16.13%) (Fig. 4).

If we consider the control group subjects who tested positive, also here the most frequently observed changes are changes in hypertrophic posterior commissure, vocal fold edema, and subglottic edema.

DISCUSSION

In our study, patients suspected of the LPR mainly presented endoscopic signs of inflammation in the posterior section of the larynx, which includes edema, erythema, and hypertrophic changes.1,3,4 It is anatomically justified by its proximity to the esophagus.

Acid reflux of gastric contents causes the widening of blood vessels in mucosa and submucosa of the larynx and further edema of the stroma and formation of a transudate. Infiltration by fibroblasts causes fibrosis, further leading to distortion of the structure of the larynx.1,6

As a result of irritation of the mucosa and form an inflammation process, a transudate is collected in the space between the lamina propria and the external elastic lamina of the vocal fold (the Reinke’s space), and this all leads to the Reinke’s edema. Polyps of the vocal cords are formed by the same reaction in the Reinke’s space. It has not been clarified exactly whether reflux is only the cofactor of factors such as overexertion of the voice and tobacco smoking, or is a full etiological factor.1,7

Granulomas of the larynx arise as a result of chronic irritation of an edge of the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage by the acid gastric reflux. The loss of a mucosa of the vocal process creates an inflammatory response and forming ulceration. As a result of repair, processes formed granulation tissue covering an ulcer and then forming a granuloma. The LPR is one of the most important etiological factors for granulomas, which can retreat after treatment with proton pump inhibitors.1,7,8

Fig. 5: Correlation values between Reinke’s edema and laryngopharyngeal reflux

CONCLUSION

The LPR shows a positive coincidence with benign vocal folds lesions. The strongest association is observed in patients with the Reinke’s edema (Fig. 5).

REFERENCES

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