<unk>  is the swelling of the vocal cords due to fluid (edema) collected within the<unk> 's space. First identified by the German anatomist Friedrich B.<unk>  in 1895, the<unk> 's space is a gelatinous layer of the vocal cord located underneath the outer cells of the vocal cord. When a person speaks, the<unk> 's space vibrates to allow for sound to be produced (phonation). The<unk> 's space is sometimes referred to as the superficial lamina propria.<unk>  is characterized by the "sac-like" appearance of the fluid-filled vocal cords. The swelling of the vocal folds causes the voice to become deep and hoarse. Therefore, the major symptom of<unk>  is a hoarseness similar to laryngitis. The major cause associated with<unk>  is smoking. In fact, 97% of patients diagnosed with<unk>  are habitual smokers. Other identified risk factors include overuse of the vocal cords, gastroesophageal reflux, and hypothyroidism. The disease is more often cited in women than in men, because lower voice changes are more noticeable in women. The first cases of<unk>  were recorded in 1891 by M. Hajek, followed by F.<unk>  in 1895. In his investigations,<unk>  injected a stained glue into the superficial lamina propria<unk> 's space) to mimic edema.<unk>  is considered to be a benign (non-cancercous) polyp (protrusion) that represents 10% of all benign laryngeal pathologies. Treatment of<unk>  starts with the elimination of associated risk factors, such as smoking, gastric reflux, and hypothyroidism. Advanced cases may undergo phonosurgery to remove the fluid from the vocal cords.
Reinke's edema
Berlin's edema
Forchheimer spots
Fuchs spot
Koplik's spots
Bitot's spots
Olney's lesions
Roth's spot