Clinical, morphological and immunohistochemical study of benign laryngeal lesions: vocal nodules, polyps and Reinke Edema

• Grant number: 06/06587-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2007
• End date: September 30, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Regina Helena Garcia Martins
• Grantee: Regina Helena Garcia Martins
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Nodules, polyps and Reinke"s edema are frequent causes of dysphonia. The exact physiopathology of these lesions is unclear. Histological alterations are not very specific, histopathological analyses do not always differentiate them and have stimulated additional researches. Objectives: to analyse benign lesions of the larynx (nodules, polyps, and Reinke edema) using clinical, morphological (light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy - SEM, and transmission electron microscopy - TEM), and immunohistochemical studies. Patients and Methods: The clinical study will include 150 patients with diagnosis of nodules (n-50), polyps (n-50), and Reinke’s edema (n-50). Clinical information are registered in specific protocol. In the morphological study, light microscopy (retrospective study) will be examined histological specimens from patients in the clinical study submitted to surgery (mean 20 specimens of each lesion). Alterations will be classified by a 0 – 3 scoring system and photographed by digital camera. Fore SEM, TEM, and immunohistochemical studies, we will include five laryngeal fragments removed during surgery. For electron and transmission microscopy, samples will be fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde and then examined and photographed under scanning and transmission ; For immunohistochemistry, fragments will be fixed in 10% formalin, mounted on slides, exposed to anti fibronectin, laminin, and collagen type IV antibodies and examined by light microscopy; results will be quantified as 0 to 3. Statistical analysis will use the Tukey test to compare proportions, with a significance level of 5% (p<0.05). (AU)