Novel application of a rigid curved larygno-pharyngoscope for examination and treatment of hypopharyngeal lesions.

In endoscopic laryngo-pharyngeal surgery (ELPS), a rigid curved laryngo-pharyngoscope, which was invented by Dr. Sato et al., is necessary to obtain excellent surgical view of both hypopharynx and even the entrance of the esophagus. We have used this instrument for the examination and treatment of several diseases other than cancer located in the hypopharynx, such as difficult-to-find buried fish bones, retropharyngeal abscess, and congenital pyriform sinus fistula. In the result, we could acquire better view of hypopharynx and completed the intended procedure safely, especially for uncovering difficult-to-find fish bone buried in the mucosa. Even in the cases hardly to operate under this instrument, just use for detailed observation of the lesion was available. A rigid curved laryngo-pharyngoscope provides a wide and clear view of a challenging space, the hypopharynx. We recommend using this technique in cases such as difficult-to-find buried fish bones or retropharyngeal abscesses while avoiding a neck incision.