Abstract
Background and Study Aims: It is believed that blind introduction of an endoscope into the esophagus causes
less patient discomfort. The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield and usefulness
of endoscopic screening of the hypopharyngeal and laryngeal regions.
Patients and Methods: A total of 1623 patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for gastrointestinal
disease between 1987 and 1992 had the instrument introduced under visual guidance,
and were retrospectively studied.
Results: We found 15 pathological conditions in the throat (0.92 %): two small cancers (0.12 %),
one advanced cancer (0.06 %), two hypopharyngeal polyps (0.12 %), one cyst (0.06 %),
and eight cases of lymphoid hyperplasia (0.49 %) in the hypopharyngeal region. A large
Zenker's diverticulum was detected in one patient (0.06 %). All of these cases could
have been overlooked if the instrument had been passed blindly through the throat.
Conclusions: In patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, the procedure of screening
the hypopharyngeal and laryngeal region is justified to detect early-stage disease
in these regions.
