Reinke’s oedema (RE) is a common laryngeal condition. The authors speculate on the ethiology of RE. There is a list of potential risk factors leading to the creation of RE in the paper. From199 2 to 1999 there were 103 patients operated on for Reinke’s oedema at the ENT Clinic of the CharlesUniversityinPilsen.Thesurgicallyremovedvocal foldtissuewasimmunohistochemically stained and analysed. The authors find Vimentin positive flat cells that formlining of the oedematous space. In the conclusion it is speculated that RE develops more likely on the basis of microtraumatisation than by vessel vasodilatation.

        Key words: Reinke’s oedema, polypoid chorditis, vocal fold microtraumatisation, Vimentin positive cells.