Bamboo nodes: Retrospective study of 44 patients.

Abstract

Objective: Bamboo nodes (BNs) are rare inflammatory lesions of the vocal folds, often associated with autoimmune disease. The aim of this study was to identify epidemiological characteristics and treatments in a case series.

Material and methods: Retrospective multicenter chart review of patients with suspected BNs between 1986 and 2020.

Results: Forty-four patients met the inclusion criteria. All were female. Mean age at diagnosis was 44 years (±11). BNs were mostly bilateral but 5% of patients presented unilateral forms. Sixty-four percent of patients (28/44) were known to have autoimmune disease (AID), while AID was diagnosed secondary to the discovery of BNs in 18% (5/28). All patients received speech therapy. Forty-five percent (20/44) underwent surgical resection of the lesion on the most affected vocal fold. Ten percent of these (2/20) required secondary surgery on the contralateral fold. Mean follow-up after first consultation was 15 months. Sixty-seven percent of patients reported improvement after treatment. Dysphonia improved in 55% of patients who were operated on (11/20), and remained stable in 15% (3/20); the others were lost to follow-up (6/20). Dysphonia improved in 31% of patients who received exclusive speech therapy (5/16), remained stable in 6% (1/16), and worsened for 6% (1/16); 56% of these patients (9/16) were lost to follow-up.

Conclusions: This series confirms the main data in the literature. It highlights the interest of screening for an underlying autoimmune condition.