title: Videofiberoptic examination of the pharyngoesophageal segment and esophagus in patients after total laryngectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Posttreatment follow-up in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is critical because of the high risk of recurrence or a new primary tumor. However, in patients who have undergone total laryngectomy, evaluation of the pharyngoesophageal segment (PES) and esophagus is difficult.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients who had undergone total laryngectomy received a videofiberoptic examination of the PES and esophagus at the OPD office during follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Satisfactory examination was achieved in 56 (93%) of the patients. Each procedure was completed within 15 minutes. Although only 11 (18%) of the patients were symptomatic at follow-up, 19 patients (34%) had significant findings, including one local recurrence and two secondary esophageal cancers. Patients were asymptomatic in all three cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Videofiberoptic examination is a simple, effective, and relatively noninvasive method that can be performed in the OPD office to evaluate the PES and esophagus in patients after total laryngectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, National Yang-Ming University, 201, Sec. 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei, Taiwan 112. pychu@vghtpe.gov.tw
authors.forename: Pen-Yuan
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Yuan-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Shyh-Kuan
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Jui-Ling
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Tung-Lung
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Shyue-Yih
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007825:Laryngectomy; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control; D010609:Pharyngeal Muscles / Q000473:pathology*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000473:pathology*