Rheumatoid nodules of the larynx.

The clinical presentation and histologic appearance of three cases of laryngeal rheumatoid nodules are the subject of this report. In one of these cases, the lesions differed from the classic appearance of the rheumatoid nodule in that they were strongly reminiscent of granulation tissue or a pyogenic granuloma. These vascular lesions are interpreted as immature rheumatoid nodules. Although there are no clinical clues that would lead to the preoperative diagnosis of rheumatoid nodule of the vocal cord and larynx, the index of suspicion should be high in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who are hoarse. However, overt joint symptoms do not appear to be a necessary concomitant of these lesions.