Gastroesophageal reflux and carcinoma of larynx or pharynx: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Conclusion: The meta-analysis supported the proposition that the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was associated with laryngeal cancer, particularly in the hospital-based control group and diagnosed by esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) or esophageal pH monitoring. However, no significant association was found between GERD and pharyngeal carcinoma. Objectives: A number of studies have been conducted to investigate the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux and laryngeal or pharyngeal carcinoma. The conclusions are still debated. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of studies associated with the prevalence of GERD in laryngeal or pharyngeal cancer, published up to November 2013.Odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using random effects models or fixed effects models, according to heterogeneity I². Results: Ten studies were included in this meta-analysis. On average, GERD was significantly higher in the tumor tissue of the study group compared with normal tissue of the control group (OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.50, 3.14; random effects analysis). The pooled ORs for laryngeal carcinoma were 2.21 (95% CI = 1.53–3.19; I² = 97, random effects model) and 3.76 (95% CI = 0.21–67.48; I² = 94, random effects model) for pharyngeal carcinoma.

Keywords::

• GERD
• laryngopharyngeal reflux
• esophagogastroduodenoscopy
• esophageal pH monitoring

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 30801283), the Technology Project of Shanghai (grant nos 11JC1410802, 09QA1401000, and 10QA1405900), Shanghai’s health system of talents training plan (grant nos XYQ2011055 and XYQ2011015).

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.