Importance of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux in the Incidence of Benign Vocal Folds’ Lesions

Ab s t r Ac t Introduction: The laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is defined as the retrograde flow of gastric contents to the upper respiratory tract causing mucosal damage. Objectives: The study aims to determine the relationship between the incidence of LPR and the presence of benign lesions of the vocal folds. Materials and methods: Using the reflux finding score (RFS), we determined the incidence of the LPR in patients with changes such as Reinke’s edema, polyps, and granulomas of the vocal folds. Results: The prevalence of pathologic LPR was 25% in the control group, 81% in the Reinke’s edema group, 60% in the vocal folds granulomas group, and 41% in the vocal cord polyps group. The most common manifestation of the LPR in the videolaryngoscopic examination is hypertrophy of the posterior commissure, which is anatomically explained by the closest location to the esophagus. Conclusion: In conclusion, the LPR might be an etiologic factor in Reinke’s edema, polyps, and granulomas of the vocal folds.