Advanced cases may undergo phonosurgery to remove the fluid from the vocal cords. Signs and symptoms
List of common symptoms:

"sac-like" appearance of the vocal folds
Hoarseness and deepening of the voice
Trouble speaking (Dysphonia)
Reduced vocal range with diminished upper limits
Stretching of the mucosa (Distension)
Shortness of breath (Dyspnoea)Reinkes edema is characterized by a "sac-like" appearance of the vocal folds. The edema is a white translucent fluid that causes a bulging (distension) of the vocal cord. The most common clinical symptom associated with Reinkes edema is an abnormally low pitched voice with hoarseness. The low pitch voice is a direct result of increased fluid in the Reinkes space, which vibrates at a lower frequency than normal (females <130 Hz;  males <110 Hz). Hoarseness is a common problem of many laryngeal diseases, such as laryngitis. It is described as a harsh and breathy tone of voice. Hoarseness is often seen alongside dysphonia, a condition in which the individual has difficulty speaking.The swelling of the vocal cords and the lowering of the voice are warning signs that an individual has Reinkes edema. At the microscopic level, an examination of the vocal cords in patients with Reinkes edema will show lowered levels of collagen, elastin, and extracellular matrix proteins. These characteristics can be used to diagnose Reinkes edema. Reinkes edema is considered a benign polyp that may become precancerous if smoking is involved. An indicator of cancer is the development of leukoplakia, which manifests as white patches on the vocal folds.Smoking, gastric reflux, and hypothyroidism are all risk factors for Reinkes edema.
Additionally, individuals in professions that require constant use of the voice, such as singers, teachers, and radio hosts, may be at an increased risk for developing the disease.Because the disease is heavily linked to smoking, there is no established way to screen for Reinkes edema. Similarly, the only way to prevent Reinkes edema is to avoid smoking. By adopting a non-smoking lifestyle after being diagnosed with Reinkes edema, it is possible to stop the diseases progression, although it is not possible to reverse it. Therefore, it is critical to maintain a non-smoking lifestyle even after surgery, because the fluid can re-emerge. In fact, in many cases surgeons will not perform surgery without the guarantee that the individual will stop smoking. Mechanism
The vocal cords consist of five layers of cells:

Squamous epithelium
Superficial lamina propria (Reinkes space)
Intermediate lamina propria
Deep lamina propria
Vocalis muscleIn order for humans to produce sound for speech, the vocal folds must readily vibrate. The two layers of the vocal cords that vibrate are the Reinkes space and the overlying epithelium. In fact, these layers move freely over the more rigid intermediate and deep lamina proprias. Accumulation of fluid within the Reinkes space alters the elasticity of the vocal cord, making it less stiff and more gelatinous. This slows the vocal cord vibration, which results in a deepened and hoarse voice. Because men normally have a lower voice than women, the change is more noticeable in women.Edema usually occurs on both vocal cords. This is known as bilateral Reinkes edema.