Characteristic Analysis of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux-Related Mucosal Vessels under Narrow Band Imaging Laryngoscopy.

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study to investigate the characteristics of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR)-related mucosal vascular dysplasia under narrow band imaging (NBI) laryngoscopy, and to assess the function of medical intervention on abnormal vascular proliferation of LPR patients.

METHODS

Based on the Symptom Index (RSI) and the Reflux Finding Score (RFS) scoring system, 150 patients diagnosed with suspicious LPR were enrolled in the study (RSI score > 13 and RFS score > 7), 50 normal people were enrolled in the control group (RSI score ≤ 13 and RFS score ≤ 7). According to the characteristics of abnormal vascular proliferation and our previous studies, the laryngopharyngeal mucosa of the suspicious LPR patients were divided into 4 grades, and the consistency between the NBI grades and RSI/RFS scores were compared. Patients who belong to II to IV grades according to NBI grading system and agreed to accept anti-acid intervention treatment were prescribed to take proton pump inhibitor (PPI) orally. Differences of the NBI grading results before and after the treatment were compared.

RESULTS

There was a statistic correlation between the NBI grading the RSI/RFS scores. Significant difference existed between the NBI grading results before and after the PPI treatment. Part of the laryngeal abnormal vascular proliferation could be reversed.

CONCLUSION

Vascular changes might be one of the main changes in the laryngopharyngeal mucosa of the suspicious LPR patients, and NBI could potentially become a reliable method in diagnosing LPR disease.