Enhanced contact endoscopy for the detection of neoangiogenesis in tumors of the larynx and hypopharynx

• Published in: The Laryngoscope Vol. 125; no. 7; pp. 1600 - 1606
• Main Authors: Puxeddu, Roberto, Sionis, Sara, Gerosa, Clara, Carta, Filippo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-07-2015; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; cancer; Diagnosis, Differential; Endoscopy; Enhanced contact endoscopy; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms - blood supply; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms - diagnosis; hypopharynx; Hypopharynx - pathology; Image Enhancement; Laryngeal Neoplasms - blood supply; Laryngeal Neoplasms - diagnosis; Laryngoscopy - methods; Larynx; Larynx - pathology; Male; Middle Aged; narrow band imaging; Neovascularization, Pathologic - diagnosis; Prospective Studies; Single-Blind Method; Storz Professional Image Enhancement System; Young Adult; Storz Professional Image Enhancement System; larynx; cancer; hypopharynx; narrow band imaging; Enhanced contact endoscopy
• ISSN: 0023-852X; 1531-4995
• DOI: 10.1002/lary.25124

Objectives/Hypothesis
Image‐enhanced endoscopy, such as narrow band imaging and the Storz Professional Image Enhancement System, have been increasingly used in patients with suspect lesions of the larynx and hypopharynx during preoperative and intraoperative assessment.
Study Design
In the present study, a contact endoscope was coupled with the systems of image‐enhanced endoscopy, as to precisely distinguish the peculiar neoangiogenetic changes in inflammation, and precancerous and cancerous lesions of the larynx and hypopharynx.
Methods
We performed a single‐blind study with this original approach of a series of 44 patients with different lesions of the larynx and hypopharynx.
Results
We observed five obvious vascular patterns matching the diagnosis in 41 patients out of 44, with accuracy in the differential diagnosis between normal tissue and hyperplasia versus mild dysplasia and carcinoma of 97.6%.
Conclusions
Enhanced contact endoscopy allows for predicting histologic changes of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal lesions from inflammation to cancer on based on fine evaluation of the neoangiogenetic changes of the chorion. This innovative procedure can be considered an important tool during diagnosis, treatment, and follow‐up of patients with precancer and cancer of the larynx and hypopharynx.
Level of Evidence
1b. Laryngoscope, 125:1600–1606, 2015