Retrospective Analysis of Clinical Characteristics, Risk Factors, and Treatment Outcomes of Reinke’s Edema

Background: Reinke’s edema is a benign chronic laryngeal disorder characterized by fluid accumulation within the superficial lamina propria of the vocal folds, leading to dysphonia and other voice changes. Major risk factors include smoking, vocal abuse, and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics, associated risk factors, treatment outcomes, and potential for malignancy in patients with Reinke’s edema within a Saudi Arabian tertiary care context. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 91 adult patients diagnosed with Reinke’s edema at a tertiary hospital in Riyadh between January 2015 and October 2024. Data retrieved from electronic medical records included demographics, comorbidities, disease severity, treatment modalities, histopathological findings, and postoperative outcomes. Statistical analysis assessed associations between variables, with significance set at P < 0.05. Results: The mean patient age was 55.1 years; 57.1% were female. Smoking (60.4%) and LPR (53.8%) were the most prevalent risk factors. All patients underwent laser-assisted micro-laryngoscopy; the microflap technique was used in 61.5% of cases. The recurrence rate was 13.2%, predominantly within 12 months postsurgery. Intraoperative steroid injections significantly reduced recurrence rates ( P = 0.05), whereas no significant differences were observed between surgical techniques. Dysplasia or malignancy was histologically confirmed in only 3.3% of cases, with no predictive clinical factors identified. Conclusion: Reinke’s edema is strongly linked to smoking and LPR, with minimal malignant potential. Surgical intervention is effective and safe, particularly when combined with intraoperative steroid use. Ongoing risk factor management and postoperative monitoring remain essential to optimize patient outcomes.