Bamboo nodes are vocal fold lesions, mostly associated with autoimmune diseases.
This is a retrospective clinical study including 10 patients with bamboo nodes. Data were collected regarding associated autoimmune disorder and type of treatment. A systematic review of the literature was conducted.
All patients were women, with hoarseness as the most frequent symptom. There was in most cases an associated autoimmune disease: 3 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus; 3 with rheumatoid arthritis; 1 with Sjögren syndrome; 1 with Hashimoto disease; and 1 with mixed connective tissue disease. Four patients were treated with speech therapy, 3 with oral steroids, 1 with speech therapy and oral steroids combined, 1 with oral steroids and laryngeal steroid injections, and 1 had oral steroids, surgery, and speech therapy. Speech therapy was the first-line treatment.
Bamboo nodes should be looked for in every patient with a diagnosis of autoimmune disease complaining of dysphonia.