Observable Laryngopharyngeal Lesions during the Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

Regardless of outstanding developments in the endoscopic field, laryngopharyngeal lesions are generally considered as a field of otolaryngology, and thus it is thought that not a lot of gastrointestinal endoscopists commonly take interest in these lesions during the upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examinations. Therefore, here in this thesis, I reviewed the availability of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in laryngopharyngeal area, normal structures of laryngopharynx, and the lesions that can be observed with the standard upper gastrointestinal endoscopic procedure.

INTRODUCTION

With the rapid increase in the number of upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures as a part of the national cancer screening project, early detection of various gastrointestinal precancerous or cancerous lesions have been increased, recently. These early detection of the lesions in early stage has been greatly helpful for the enhancement of the quality of life or life prolongation and have also allowed the significant reduction of medical costs through the endoscopic surgery without cutting the abdomen or chest.1-3 Regardless of such rapid development in the endoscopic field, laryngopharyngeal lesions are generally considered as a field of otolaryngology, and thus it is thought that not a lot of gastrointestinal endoscopists commonly take interest in these lesions during the upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examinations. Therefore, most laryngopharyngeal lesions are difficult to be detected by gastrointestinal endoscopists. The laryngopharynx is a structure that must be passed inevitably during upper gastrointestinal endoscopic insertion; hence various diseases can be detected if the area is examined in detail during endoscopy. According to the reports which have studied laryngopharyngeal lesions that can be observed during upper gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures, 0.9% to 3.5% of all tests have displayed abnormalities in the laryngopharynx.4-10 Furthermore, the field of endoscopic treatment is expanding to include laryngopharynx lesions.11 Accordingly, this thesis will review the availability of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in laryngopharyngeal area, normal structures of laryngopharynx, and the lesions that can be observed with the standard upper gastrointestinal endoscopic procedure.

STRUCTURE OF THE LARYNGOPHARYNX AND NORMAL FINDINGS

The pharynx is divided into three parts: nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx. From the soft palate, the top part is the nasopharynx, and from the soft palate to the epiglottis is the oropharynx, and from the bottom of the epiglottis to the entrance of the esophagus is the hypopharynx. The hypopharynx applies to the back of the larynx.12 The larynx is the vocal organ that includes the vocal cords, and the oropharynx is located on the top, with the trachea located on the bottom and the hypopharynx on the back. The oropharynx and larynx can be observed in a standard upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and the nasopharynx can be observed with the recently developed endoscopy, although its use is not popular.

There are differences based on the type of mouth-piece used during endoscopic procedures, but when the endoscope is inserted using the most commonly used tongue depressor type mouth-piece, observations can be conducted from the soft palate. After the uvula and both tonsils connected to the soft palate are observed, and when the tube is progressed further, the epiglottis and lymph nodes near the root of the tongue are seen, followed by most of the larynx and parts of the hypopharynx can be seen. Here, the vocal cords, insides of the epiglottis, the corniculate cartilage, arytenoids cartilage, and pyriform sinus can be observed (Fig. 1). However, when air is released while these parts are observed, severe coughing can occur due to the inflow of secretion through the airway, thus air must be inflowed as less as possible, and the parts must be observed within a short period of time. If necessary, the area should be reobserved when removing the endoscope after observing the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.

Fig. 1

Normal laryngopharyngeal structure under upper gastrointestinal endoscopic procedure. The vocal cords, insides of the epiglottis, the corniculate cartilage, arytenoids cartilage, and pyriform sinus can be observed.

OBSERVABLE LESIONS

Oral cavity

A part of the mouth can sometimes be observed-there are not many parts that can be observed thoroughly due to the mouthpiece used during the endoscopic procedure; however, soft palate lesions can sometimes be observed quite easily, with greater care. The diseases that can occur within the oral cavity, such as the lips, gums, teeth, hard palate, and soft palate have been shown on Table 1. It includes various diseases based on various causes; oral ulcers, connective tissue diseases, various infectious diseases, and benign or malignant tumors (Fig. 2). Even if lesions do exist, it is difficult to discover them during the actual endoscopic procedure because the parts covered by the mouth-piece are commonly affected. However, when suspicious lesions are discovered, biopsy should be taken or consulted to the laryngologist, if available.

Table 1

Oral Lesions Observable during Endoscopy

Fig. 2

Soft palate cancer. In a 75-year-old asymptomatic male patient, ill demarcated friable lesion is found on the soft palate.

Inflammatory lesions

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) diseases

The gastroesophageal reflux disease does not only display esophageal symptoms but also includes various extraesophageal symptoms or complications, including coughing, laryngitis, asthma, dental caries, pharyngitis, sinusitis, pulmonary fibrosis, otitis media, etc.13 LPR refers to the effect of gastric contents, such as gastric acid or pepsin passing through the upper esophageal sphincter to the laryngopharynx, and may display symptoms such as abnormal vocalization, hoarse voice, globus, dysphagia, and chronic coughing.14,15

Meanwhile, laryngitis occurs due to various causes, but most of them display similar appearances by the naked eye with no relation to the causes; LPR can also become an important cause, and laryngitis caused by LPR is referred to as reflux laryngitis. There may be controversy on standard diagnostic methods that can easily be conducted concerning the diagnosis of LPR. If abnormal findings are found with the aforementioned symptoms during the endoscopy or laryngoscopy, the diagnosis of LPR can be considered with priority. These abnormal finding may include various appearances, such as erythema, edema, granuloma, and stenosis. Erythema and edema which occur in the mucous membrane between the arytenoid and back of the arytenoid are the most common findings of reflux laryngitis, considering the positional relationship with the upper esophageal sphincter (Fig. 3).16 However, there is diagnostic limitation in that these abnormalities can occur in as high as 70% of general people who do not display specific symptoms, and in that standards of dividing normality and abnormality are not clear.17-19

Fig. 3

Reflux laryngitis. (A) In a 63-year-old male patient who presents severe globus and chronic coughing, diffuse erythema is found in the vocal folds and arytenoids wall. (B) In a 59-year-old male patient who presents globus, severe edema is found in the posterior larynx.

There have been many studies conducted under the presumption that the 24-hour pH monitoring is the most superior of all diagnostic tools for LPR.20 However, there is no clearcut standard, and there are also reports which show large amount of false positive results, displaying a positive rate of 10% to 60% in healthy people with no symptoms. Thus, this test is not recommended to all patients.21

Recently, reflux finding score, which consists of eight categories observed through the laryngoscope, has been proposed in the otolaryngologic field to standardize the diagnosis of LPR (Table 2).22 This system displayed a highly significant consistency within and between the observers, as well as reproducibility, and was reported to help the judgment of improvement after the treatment of reflux laryngitis. Furthermore, this scoring system and a survey that grades reflux symptoms have been used in reports that have successfully researched the reaction to treatments, thus is considered as being an element worth considering for use in the gastroenterologic field.23-25

Table 2

Reflux Finding Score

Caustic damage

Other than in special cases, such as having no consciousness or being unable to communicate, caustic damage can generally be predicted through medical history taking. Various findings can be shown based on the causing material. Erythema, edema, and bleeding can be seen during the acute phase, and as time progresses, edema, and erythema can decrease, with change in the surrounding tissues due to fibrosis. During the chronic phase, stenosis due to deformity becomes the greatest problem.26

Candidiasis

White membranous substances similar to esophageal candidiasis can be seen in the oral membrane or the laryngopharynx, and can commonly occur in situations with suppressed immunity, such as with chronic diseases or use of steroids. Membranous substances can be diagnosed by dying potassium hydroxide.27

Neoplasic lesions

Laryngeal cancer

There is a need to suspect laryngeal cancer in patients with changes in their voice. The larynx is located directly above the vocal cord, so laryngeal cancer is relatively easy to detect. However, if the cancer is located in the dented area between the epiglottis and vocal cord, it may be difficult to diagnose. It is observed in various shapes, and can easily bleed on contact with the endoscope, and displays a tendency of easy friability during biopsies.28 Caution must be taken during biopsies so that pulmonary aspiration due to bleeding does not occur.

Hypopharyngeal cancer

During endoscopic procedure, the scope enters through the left pyriform sinus, thus hypopharyngeal cancer located on the back of the left arytenoid is occasionally found. If the mass is large, it can easily be found, but without care, it can easily be missed even after several procedures. The shape is very diverse and is almost undistinguishable with the naked eye, but it displays easy bleeding on contact with the scope, and thus can be diagnosed by biopsies. The surface of oral cavity, larynx, and hypopharynx is composed of squamous epithelium, just as the esophagus. Thus, laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer can occur synchronously or metachronously with esophageal cancer.29 Therefore, the hypopharynx or larynx must thoroughly be examined in esophageal cancer patients,30 and inversely, it is necessary to thoroughly examine the esophagus in hypopharynx or laryngeal cancer patients. Recently, new video imaging methods such as narrow band imaging are contributing to the early detection of these diseases.31

Other benign tumors

Papillomas, cysts, vocal fold polyps, lipomas, hymangiomas, and other various benign tumors can be discovered in the larynx, hypopharynx, epiglottis, and oral cavity.32 Sometimes local leukoplakia is found in various parts. This is a precancerous lesion and it is recommended to be removed, if possible.

Other diseases

Intubation granuloma

As side effects of tracheal intubation in patients treated with mechanical ventilation or general anesthesia, tracheostenosis, organ-esophageal fistula, and granulomas may occur due to the fibrosis of the stimulated area.33 It is known that the intubation period or early laryngeal damage cannot predict the occurrence of granulomas. If a hoarse voice continues 7 to 10 days after extubation, the formation of a granuloma should be suspected and a diagnostic evaluation is recommended. Many cases require surgical removal.

Edema

Laryngopharyngeal edemas may occur after forceful inserting of the scope or during tracheal intubation, thus caution is needed. It also may occur after repetitive procedures due to hematemesis, or after difficult procedure due to severe vomiting.

Postoperative deformity

Various deformities may be observed after the operation of laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer. In those cases, there is a need to confirm the surgical history of the patient through detailed medical history taking before the procedure. If one side of the pyriform sinus is closed after surgery, the scope must be entered through the pyriform sinus located on the opposite side. And thorough observation for synchronous or metachronous lesions is needed.

Behcet's disease

Unlike simple aphthous ulcers, oral ulcers based on Behcet's disease are not easily healed, and frequently relapse. If ulcers also occur in other areas, such as the genital area, this disease may be suspected. Most ulcers occur in the mouth, but also can occur in the pharynx or hypopharynx. Deformity of the surrounding areas can also be developed due to deep ulcers.

Discoloration of the mucous membrane

Local discoloration may occur on the mucous membrane due to angiodysplasia or infections, and it can also be observed before or after the formation of ulcers.

Vocal cord paralysis

Vocal cord paralysis can occur due to a large variety of causes, such as gastric acid reflux, exercise, stress, postoperation, neurological disorders, etc. It is commonly accompanied by the change in voice. Although, recently, endoscopic procedures under conscious sedation may restrict observation of the vocal cords, vocal cord paralysis can also be confirmed by allowing the patient to use the vocal cord during the diagnosis.34

Tonsillar hypertrophy

Congenital or infection-based tonsillar hypertrophy can be observed relatively easily during the insertion of the endoscope.

CONCLUSIONS

As mentioned, oral and laryngopharyngeal lesions which can easily be observed with careful upper gastrointestinal endoscopic procedure were reviewed. On the other hands, these lesions may easily be missed if careful examination is not performed. Considering the current medical circumstances in Korea where a large number of patients must be examined within a short period of time, it is not easy to diagnose the lesions which exist in these oropharyngolaryngeal areas. However, with thorough examinations conducted with great care within the possible area, various diseases can be detected in early stage and it can be a great help to the patients. These careful examinations are also expected to increase the effectiveness of the endoscopic procedures.