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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Simultaneous Laryngopharyngeal and Conventional Esophageal pH Monitoring
Published on: December 14, 2020
Laryngeal carcinoma and laryngo-pharyngeal reflux disease
J Galli1, G Cammarota, M Volante
1ENT Department, "A. Gemelli" Polyclinic, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
Abstract:
A correlation between laryngo-pharyngeal reflux and laryngeal carcinoma is currently debated. Chronic inflammation is a mutagen factor confirmed in the cancerogenesis of various tumours. Aim of the present study was to evaluate, in an objective and consecutive way, with 24h multi-electrode pH-metry the presence of proximal and distal oesophageal reflux in patients presenting pre-cancerosis or squamous cell laryngeal and/or pharyngeal carcinomas. From our data, a strict correlation emerged between laryngo-pharyngeal reflux and neoplasias of the upper airways, documented through multi-electrode pH-metry. Data emerging from this study would seem to support the theory that the protracted exposure (> 20 years) to biliary reflux would represent a statistically significant added risk factor in the precancerous lesions and squamous pharyngo-laryngeal carcinoma as it occurs at oesophageal level. Moreover, a significant statistical association (p < 0.0001) emerged between laryngeal carcinoma and previous gastro-resection (odds ratio 3.8).
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