Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol.  2014 Jun;7(2):123-125.

The Role of Transnasal Esophagoscopy in ENT Office: A Prospective, Multicenter Study in Korea

• Chung EJ
• Rho YS
• Jung KY
• Kim JW
• Lee SW

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of study was to report the current role of transnasal esophagoscopy (TNE) in Korea.
METHODS
One hundred thirty-seven patients who underwent TNE at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital (n=69) and Korea University Anam Hospital (n=68) from July 2007 to February 2009 were prospectively analyzed. Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) patients without any response to proton-pump inhibitor (n=102), and patients with complaints that require esophagoscopy as part of their evaluation (n=35) were included in this study; investigation of metachronous lesions or routine follow-up screening of head and neck cancer patients, n=17; dysphagia, n=9; blood tinged saliva, n=4; to determine the cause of vocal fold paralysis as screening tool, n=4; suspicious esophageal foreign body, n=1.
RESULTS
Fifty-three patients (38.7%) had positive findings on TNE. Positive finding ratio was highest in group of dysphagia (7 among 9 patients, 78%). Forty-two patients (41.1%) were found to have pathology (esophagitis, n=41; esophageal diverticulum, n=1) during the screening examination for LPRD. There were no significant complications in any of the patients.
CONCLUSION
TNE is a high-yield diagnostic and therapeutic modality available to otolaryngologists for use on awake patients in the office setting.

Keyword

Transnasal esophagoscopy; Esophagus; Safety

MeSH Terms

Deglutition Disorders
Diverticulum, Esophageal
Esophagoscopy*
Esophagus
Follow-Up Studies
Foreign Bodies
Gyeonggi-do
Head and Neck Neoplasms
Humans
Korea
Laryngopharyngeal Reflux
Mass Screening
Paralysis
Pathology
Prospective Studies*
Saliva
Tolnaftate
Vocal Cords
Tolnaftate

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