title: Contact endoscopy for the evaluation of the pharyngeal and laryngeal mucosa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Contact endoscopy is a noninvasive tool that allows in vivo and in situ examination of superficial mucosa. Its use for early diagnosis of cancerous lesions of the oropharynx and larynx has not been evaluated. The aim of the study was to validate contact endoscopy for the examination of pharyngeal and laryngeal mucosa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Superficial cells of the mucosa were stained with methylene blue and examined with contact endoscopes. The documented images were assessed by a cytopathologist and by an otolaryngologist independently for each patient. Biopsies for histopathological examination of the area were performed and correlated with contact endoscopic findings of both examiners.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 42 examined specimen, 32 (76.2%) showed benign changes in the histological analysis. Squamous cell carcinoma was revealed in 10 specimen (23.8%). Using contact endoscopy, the cytopathologist accurately identified 90.6% of the benign findings (29 of 32); however, only seven of 10 (70%) carcinomas were correctly categorized. In comparison, the otolaryngologist made a correct diagnosis in 93.75% (30 of 32) of the benign and in 90% (nine of 10) of the malignant cases. Thus, a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 93.75% can be achieved by contact endoscopy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contact endoscopy offers valuable support for the evaluation of oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, and laryngeal mucosa. Contact endoscopy can be a useful contribution to rapid intraoperative evaluation of mucosal alterations for early diagnosis of tumors and might reduce diagnostic biopsy sampling. Even so, it does not replace biopsy sampling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Athanasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Warnecke
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Averbeck
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leinung
authors.forename: Bisharah
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Soudah
authors.forename: Gentiana I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Wenzel
authors.forename: Hans-Heinrich
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kreipe
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lenarz
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stöver
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D004396:Coloring Agents; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D019723:Endoscopes; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007820:Laryngeal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008751:Methylene Blue; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000473:pathology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D008751:Methylene Blue