Videofiberoptic examination of the pharyngoesophageal segment and esophagus in patients after total laryngectomy.
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.
Chu
Pen-Yuan
PY
Department of Otolaryngology, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, National Yang-Ming University, 201, Sec. 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei, Taiwan 112. pychu@vghtpe.gov.tw
Guo
Yuan-Ching
YC
Tai
Shyh-Kuan
SK
Hwang
Jui-Ling
JL
Tsai
Tung-Lung
TL
Chang
Shyue-Yih
SY
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*