Improved Visualization of Oropharyngeal Tumors Using Simple Maneuvers During Flexible Endoscopy

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Endoscopy
• Oncology

Background:

• Accurate visualization of oropharyngeal tumors is crucial for staging and treatment planning.
• Flexible endoscopy is a key tool for oropharyngeal examination.
• Optimizing visualization techniques can enhance diagnostic yield.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate specific patient positioning maneuvers that enhance oropharyngeal visualization during flexible endoscopy.
• To quantify the improvement in tumor surface area visualization using these maneuvers.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 10 flexible endoscopy videos of patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma.
• Assessment of four maneuvers: chin elevation, phonation, tongue protrusion, and contralateral head turn.
• Quantification of visualized tumor surface area using image analysis software (Label Studio and Python).

Main Results:

• All four maneuvers increased the visualized tumor surface area compared to baseline.
• Chin elevation resulted in the largest average increase in surface area (2.7-fold).
• Contralateral head turn and phonation also significantly increased visualization (1.7-fold each).

Conclusions:

• Simple patient positioning techniques during flexible endoscopy can substantially improve oropharyngeal tumor visualization.
• These maneuvers aid in more accurate baseline assessment and staging of oropharyngeal tumors.
• Implementing these techniques is recommended for enhanced diagnostic accuracy.