Abstracts from Around the World

Prior studies assessing the importance of laryngeal examination at the time of upper endoscopy have yielded mixed results. This prospective study of 1297 patients who were asymptomatic for laryngopharyngeal disease and undergoing elective upper endoscopy had videotape of the laryngopharyngeal area which was subsequently reviewed by 2 blinded ear, nose, and throat specialists. Overall, 1130 patients (87%) had a successful examination. Twenty-two percent of patients had reflux symptoms, though fewer than 10% had endoscopic erosive esophagitis. The most important findings included leukoplakia (4 patients) and posterior laryngitis (16 patients). As in prior studies, a correlation was found between reflux and posterior laryngitis confirmed by esophageal pH monitoring, while smoking was associated with leukoplakia. After tape review, only 8 patients had pathology missed by endoscopy, none serious (sensitivity 85%).