Treatment
The first course of treatment is to remove the source of the irritant (e.g. smoking cessation, vocal rest, etc.). This can be effective if done soon after development of the edema. Surgery is also an option and can result in some restoration of the voice but is ineffective in complete restoration of the voice to its original state. Decortication of the vocal cords, i.e. removal of a strip of epithelium, is done first on one side and 3–4 weeks later on the other side.
Read more about this topic: Reinke's Edema
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—Susan Sontag (b. 1933)