title: Narrow-band imaging of laryngeal images and endoscopically proven reflux esophagitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the difference between white light (WL) and narrow-band imaging (NBI) endoscopy in evaluating patients who had reflux laryngitis and esophagitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of medical records and endoscopic images.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 102 consecutive patients with reflux esophagitis (mean age, 48 ± 11 years) who had office-based transnasal esophagoscopy (TNE) with WL and NBI views, including 60 men (59%) and 42 women (41%). We compared WL and NBI endoscopy in observing the laryngeal and esophageal epithelium. The nasopharynx, base of the tongue, epiglottis, hypopharynx, larynx, esophagus, gastroesophageal junction, and stomach were examined, and all procedures were digitally recorded. All patients were evaluated with WL and NBI views to determine the reflux finding score (RFS) in the larynx and Los Angeles (LA) classification grade in the esophagus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The NBI views were more sensitive than the WL views in the erythema/hyperemia, vocal cord edema, and global RFS scores. The NBI view facilitated the identification of the erythema/hyperemia change representing dilation or proliferation of microvessels caused by epithelial inflammation. The global RFS score was significantly associated with severity of LA grade only with the NBI view.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The endoscopic findings with the NBI view permit an easier identification of the RFS parameters of laryngeal erythema/vocal cord edema, which have a stronger correlation with the severity of reflux esophagitis, than the WL view. The importance of NBI in the evaluation of reflux laryngitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease deserves further study.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China Department of Otolaryngology, Sijhih Cathay General Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan, Republic of China School of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan, Republic of China evan_travel@hotmail.com.
authors: Wen-Hung
authors: WH
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors: Kai-Yu
authors: KY
authors: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D062048:Narrow Band Imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: endoscopy; gastroesophageal reflux disease; outpatient; reflux laryngitis