Prevalence of laryngeal irritation signs associated with reflux in asymptomatic volunteers: impact of endoscopic technique (rigid vs. flexible laryngoscope).
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to 1) determine the prevalence of ENT findings in the normal asymptomatic population and 2) to compare findings between flexible and rigid laryngoscopes in an attempt to increase specificity of diagnosis of reflux in endoscopic laryngeal examinations.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Fifty-two nonsmoker volunteers (24 male, 28 female), mean age of 42.7 years, with no history of ENT abnormalities or gastroesophageal reflux disease, underwent both rigid and flexible videolaryngologic examinations with a digital endoscopic unit. A group of three expert judges reviewed the oral and transnasal examinations blindly and independently for physical signs of irritation/inflammation commonly associated with reflux.


RESULTS
Atleast one sign of tissue irritation was detected in 93% and 83% of the population when using a flexible and a rigid laryngoscope, respectively. Results showed a high incidence of posterior commissure bar (53.2% and 51.9%), arytenoid complex edema/erythema (76.3% and 53.2%), and pseudosulcus (37.2% and 7.7%). Most signs were more frequently detected on flexible transasal examinations than with rigid transoral examinations: posterior pharyngeal wall (<0.01), interarytenoid irritation (<0.01), arytenoids complex irritation (<0.01), ventricular obliteration (<0.01), and pseudosulcus (<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Several signs of posterior laryngeal irritation (e.g., interarytenoid bar, erythema of the medial wall of the arytenoids), which are generally considered to be signs of laryngopharyngeal reflux, are present in a high percentage of nonsymptomatic individuals, raising question about their diagnostic specificity. In addition, these signs were more often detected with flexible than with rigid laryngoscopes, suggesting that flexible laryngoscopy is more sensitive but less specific in identifying laryngeal tissue irritation.
Milstein
Claudio F
CF
The Voice Center, Head and Neck Institute, Center for Swallowing and Esophageal Disorders, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA. milstec@ccf.org
Charbel
Samer
S
Hicks
Douglas M
DM
Abelson
Tom I
TI
Richter
Joel E
JE
Vaezi
Michael F
MF
D000328:Adult; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007827:Laryngitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D020704:Laryngoscopes; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014741:Video Recording