[Pathomechanisms of Reinke edema]

Reinke's oedema is a characteristic process of a limited part of vocal cords, margins of them. In the development of it local injury of vessel walls, increase of the permeability play a part. Why fluid entering from vessels into the tissues of vocal cords does not flow back can be explained by the peculiar anatomic structure and lymph circulation of the Reinke's space. Dyskeratic changes of the epithelium covering the organized oedema are of secondary type. They are not followed by increased mitotic activity of basal and parabasal cells.