Bamboo node: primary vocal fold lesion as evidence of autoimmune disease.

Descriptions of vocal fold lesions related to autoimmune diseases are rare in the literature, and focus mainly on rheumatoid nodules. This is the first report in which autoimmune diseases were promptly suspected by the observation of a unique white transverse submucosal lesion in the vocal fold during clinical examination. This lesion, reported only in autoimmune disease, has been called the bamboo node and its features are different from those of rheumatoid nodules.

Transillumination laryngoscopy: a new way of evaluating vocal fold and hypopharyngeal lesions.

Conventional methods of observing the larynx and the hypopharynx use reflected light to illuminate the larynx. The aim of this study was to see whether transilluminating the larynx was possible in subjects with and without disease. The larynx and the hypopharynx were observed by means of a rigid scope with a low-light charge-coupled device camera without the light guide inserted.

Diagnosis and physiopathology of laryngeal deposits in autoimmune disease.

We report the clinical features and pathology of a previously unreported form of vocal fold disease seen in 4 patients, 3 of whom were diagnosed as autoimmune disease. The characteristic features of these lesions were found as bilateral transverse lesions in the mid portion of the vocal folds. The patients had dysphonia and diplophonia.