The usefulness of narrow-band imaging for the diagnosis and treatment of vocal fold leukoplakia

Abstract

Objective: This research was aimed to explore the efficacy of narrow-band imaging (NBI) on distinguishing the degree of dysplasia of vocal fold leukoplakia.

Methods: Patients were examined by flexible endoscopy, under white light endoscopy (WLE) and NBI. 78 lesions were divided into two groups according to the NBI classification. Group 1: non-dysplasia (ND), including squamous hyperplasia with hyperkeratosis or parakeratosis; Group 2: squamous hyperplasia with mild or moderate dysplasia (MD) or severe dysplasia (SD), or carcinoma in situ (CIS).

Results: The diagnostic accuracy of NBI for Group 1 and Group 2 was 69.70% (23/33) and 95.56% (43/45), respectively, and the kappa index was 0.711 and a p value < .05, which was considered statistically significant.

Conclusions: The NBI could roughly estimate the degree of dysplasia. Differentiating between ND, MD, SD, and CIS, which may be useful for clinicians on selecting suitable therapies.

Chinese abstract

目的: 本研究旨在探讨窄带成像 (NBI) 对辨别声带粘膜白斑发音不良发生程度的作用。

方法: 在白光内镜 (WLE) 和NBI之下, 采用软内窥镜检查患者。 根据NBI分类将78例病变分为两组。 1组: 非发育不良 (ND) , 包括角化过度或角化不全的鳞状增生; 2组: 轻度或中度发育不良 (MD) 或严重发育不良 (SD) 或原位癌 (CIS) 的鳞状增生。

结果: NBI对1组和2组的诊断准确率分别为69.70% (23/33) 和95.56% (43/45) , kappa指数为0.711, p值<0.05, 被认为具有统计学意义。

结论: NBI可以粗略估计发育不良的程度。 对ND、MD、SD和CIS的区别可能有助于临床医生选择合适的疗法。

Keywords:

• Leukoplakia
• vocal fold
• narrow-band imaging
• dysplasia
• carcinoma

Acknowledgements

We thank Olympus (Beijing) Sales & Service Co., Ltd. for technical support of the endoscope equipment.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.