Bamboo nodes: Retrospective study of 44 patients

Bamboo nodes (BNs) are rare inflammatory lesions of the vocal folds, often associated with autoimmune disease. The aim of this study was to identify epidemiological characteristics and treatments in a case series.

Retrospective multicenter chart review of patients with suspected BNs between 1986 and 2020.

Forty-four patients met the inclusion criteria. All were female. Mean age at diagnosis was 44 years (±11). BNs were mostly bilateral but 5% of patients presented unilateral forms. Sixty-four percent of patients (28/44) were known to have autoimmune disease (AID), while AID was diagnosed secondary to the discovery of BNs in 18% (5/28). All patients received speech therapy. Forty-five percent (20/44) underwent surgical resection of the lesion on the most affected vocal fold. Ten percent of these (2/20) required secondary surgery on the contralateral fold. Mean follow-up after first consultation was 15 months. Sixty-seven percent of patients reported improvement after treatment. Dysphonia improved in 55% of patients who were operated on (11/20), and remained stable in 15% (3/20); the others were lost to follow-up (6/20). Dysphonia improved in 31% of patients who received exclusive speech therapy (5/16), remained stable in 6% (1/16), and worsened for 6% (1/16); 56% of these patients (9/16) were lost to follow-up.

This series confirms the main data in the literature. It highlights the interest of screening for an underlying autoimmune condition.