Cricoarytenoid arthritis

Upper airway obstruction Cricoarytenoid arthritis Airway nodules... 

A unique presentation of airway obstruction in RA is due to cricoarytenoid arthritis. The cricoarytenoid joint is the only true joint in the larynx that can be involved with RA. When the vocal cords are unable to adduct because of arthritis, severe inspiratory stridor develops with a flow volume loop typical of variable extrathoracic upper airway obstruction. Cricoarytenoid arthritis is also seen in gout, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and Reiter s syndrome but is more common in RA. The symptoms of cricoarytenoid arthritis may be subtle... 

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