Vocal Fold Mucosa “Blue Linesâ€‌ Observed on Contact Telescopy at Reinkeʹs Edema

Reinkeʹs space is a highly specific structure critical for the function of the vocal fold, involved in a majority of pathological changes of the larynx. The aim of the study was to contribute to the understanding of edematous areas of vocal fold mucosa in patients with Reinkeʹs edema using contact telescopy (ConTel). The edematous tissue which could be identified grossly by microlaryngoscopy under general anesthesia was stained topically with methylene blue and then examined using ConTel. The observed changes on contact images were further correlated with corresponding histological sections of biopsied edematous tissue. In patients with Reinkeʹs edema examined using ConTel, we observed longitudinal arranged mucosal “blue linesâ€‌ (BL). In the histological sections of edematous tissue showing the BL on ConTel, we almost regularly observed well-developed hollow spaces in subepithelia. Also, they were regularly oriented from the middle of the membranous portion of the vocal fold toward the arcuate line distributed almost parallel to the free edge of the vocal fold. BL were a specific feature of Reinkeʹs edema as they were not found in control groups with normal vocal fold mucosa and with vocal fold polyps. For the first time we are describing a new superficial morphological feature of Reinkeʹs edema. The BL could present epithelial ConTel markers of the area between two enlarged neighboring subepithelial crevices of Reinkeʹs space, as indicated on histological sections. Further characterization of BL is required for the understanding of their role in Reinkeʹs edema.