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

Abstract

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.