Structured oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx assessment during routine esophagogastroduodenoscopy improves detection of pre- and early cancerous lesions: a multicenter, comparative study

Alexander Huelsen; Andrew T. St John; Ratna Pandey; David E. Vokes; Jessica J. McMaster; Russell S. Walmsley; Gerald J. Holtmann

doi:10.1055/a-1311-1014

Endoscopy International Open, Table of Contents

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Endoscopy 2021; 09(02): E154-E162
DOI: 10.1055/a-1311-1014

Original article

Structured oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx assessment during routine esophagogastroduodenoscopy improves detection of pre- and early cancerous lesions: a multicenter, comparative study

Authors

Alexander Huelsen

¹Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

²Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Andrew T. St John

¹Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

²Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Ratna Pandey

³Department of Gastroenterology, North Shore Hospital, Waitemata District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand
David E. Vokes

⁴Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
Jessica J. McMaster

¹Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

²Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

⁵Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Russell S. Walmsley

³Department of Gastroenterology, North Shore Hospital, Waitemata District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand

⁶Faculty of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Gerald J. Holtmann

¹Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

²Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

⁵Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

⁷Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Abstract

Background and study aims A structured assessment of the oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx (OHL) may improve the diagnostic yield for the detection of precancerous and early cancerous lesions (PECLs) during routine esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Thus, we aimed to compare routine EGDs ± structured OHL assessment (SOHLA), including photo documentation with regard to the detection of PECLs.

Patients and methods Consecutive patients with elective EGD were arbitrarily allocated to endoscopy lists with or without SOHLA. All detected OHL abnormalities were assessed by an otolaryngologist-head & neck surgeon (ORL-HNS) and the frequency of PECLS detected during SOHLA vs. standard cohort compared.

Results Data from 1000 EGDs with and 1000 EGDs without SOHLA were analyzed. SOHLA was successful in 93.3 % of patients, with a median assessment time of 45 seconds (interquartile range: 40–50). SOHLA identified 46 potential PECLs, including two benign subepithelial lesions (4.6 %, 95 % CI: 3.4–6.1) while without SOHLA, no malignant and only one benign lesion was found (P < 0.05). ORL-HNS imaging review classified 23 lesions (2.3 %, 95 % CI: 1.5–3.4) as concerning and ORL-HNS clinic assessment was arranged. This identified six PECLs (0.6 %, 95 % CI: 0.2–1.3) including two pharyngeal squamous cell lesions (0.2 %) demonstrating high-grade dysplasia and carcinoma in situ (CIS) and four premalignant glottic lesions (0.4 %) demonstrating low-grade dysplasia and CIS.

Conclusion In the routine setting of a gastrointestinal endoscopy practice precancerous and early cancerous lesions of the oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx are rare (< 1 %) but can be detected with a structured assessment of this region during routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Full Text

References

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