Utility of Flexible Fiberoptic Nasolaryngoscopy in Assessment of Laryngeal Lesions Among Suspected Patients Living in Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: To assess the utility of lexible iberoptic nasolaryngoscopy in diagnosing laryngeal lesions and identifying factors contributing to the development of serious laryngeal pathologies among suspicious patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2017 to August 2018 at Dow University Hospital. Patients who came to an ENT outpatient clinic with a complaint of hoarseness, dysphagia, and sortness of breath (SOB) were asked to undergo Fiber optic direct laryngoscopy (FODL) examination. Laryngeal pathologies were noted on FODL along with demographic characteristics, presenting complaints, and aggravating factors.

Results: Findings of the FODL showed that amongst 86 patients with regular complains of upper respiratory disease, lesions were found to be higher in vocal cords (n=34, 39.5%), followed by posterior pharyngeal walls (n=19, 22.1%), and pyriform fossa (n=13, 15.1%). A signiicant association of pyriform was observed with history of radiaton (p-value 0.023). Similarly, posterior commissure was also found signiicantly associated with history of radiation (p-value 0.041). Moreover, exposure to air pollution was also found signiicantly associated with ary epiglottic folds (p-value 0.036), ventricular bands (p-value 0.004), vocal cords (p-value 0.004), anterior commissure (p-value 0.017), sub-glottis (p-value 0.016), and posterior pharyngeal walls (p-value 0.046).

Conclusion: Eficacy of iberoptic nasolaryngoscopy in diagnosing laryngeal lesions among patients with regular complains of upper respiratory tract was found signiicant especially in thick populated industrial city. We recommend flexible nasolaryngoscopy examination in routine chekups at primary and secondary health units as it is low-cost and free of anesthesia risk and therefore can reduce burden of advanced disease from society.