Value of autofluorescence bronchoscopy in patients with laryngeal cancer.
BACKGROUND
Patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck constitute a high risk group for synchronous and metachronous tumours.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of white light and autofluorescence bronchoscopy in the evaluation of pre-malignant and early neoplastic lesions in patients with laryngeal cancer, who are at high risk of concomitant lung cancer.


METHODS
This prospective, cross-sectional study included 30 patients who had undergone total laryngectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. The tracheobronchial system was investigated for the presence of pre-malignant and malignant lesions, using a combination of white light and autofluorescence bronchoscopy. Biopsies were obtained from areas with a pathological appearance, and histopathological studies were performed.


RESULTS
All patients had a permanent tracheostomy. Light and autofluorescence bronchoscopy indicated that the tracheobronchial system was normal in 11 patients. A total of 27 biopsies was taken from the remaining 19 patients, and revealed invasive squamous cell carcinoma in one patient and pre-malignant changes in six.


CONCLUSIONS
Bronchoscopy is a valuable and practical tool for screening patients at high risk of lung cancer, and requires minimal intervention especially in patients with a permanent tracheostomy. Of the various bronchoscopic techniques becoming available, autofluorescence bronchoscopy shows promise for the detection of pre-invasive malignant changes of the tracheobronchial system in patients previously operated upon for laryngeal cancer.
Department of Chest Disease, Yedikule Chest Disease and Thoracic Surgery Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
E
E
Cetınkaya
B
B
Veyseller
Y S
YS
Yildirim
F
F
Aksoy
M A
MA
Ozgül
A
A
Gençoğlu
S
S
Altin
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D007825:Laryngectomy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014139:Tracheostomy