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Contact endoscopy of the vocal cord: normal and pathological patterns
Acta Oto-Laryngologica
|March 1, 1995
Summary
Contact endoscopy provides in vivo visualization of vocal cord epithelium, aiding in the diagnosis of benign to malignant pathologies. This technique correlates well with histology, improving diagnostic accuracy for vocal cord conditions.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Cell Biology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Vocal cord epithelium assessment traditionally relies on biopsy and histology.
- In vivo microscopic examination of vocal cord superficial layers is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of contact endoscopy for in vivo study of vocal cord epithelium.
- To correlate contact endoscopy findings with histological diagnoses of vocal cord pathologies.
Main Methods:
- Contact endoscopy performed during microlaryngoscopies in 92 patients.
- Systematic comparison with pathological examination of laryngectomy specimens.
- Histology and electron microscopy used for detailed analysis.
Main Results:
- Contact endoscopy visualized cellular characteristics like nucleus dimension, shape, and nucleus/cytoplasm ratio.
- Distinct pathological patterns (chronic laryngitis, keratosis, dysplasia, tumor, papilloma) were identified.
- Correlation with histology confirmed the diagnostic capability for epithelial transitions and lesions.
Conclusions:
- Contact endoscopy is a valuable tool for in vivo and in situ analysis of vocal cord epithelium.
- It aids in differentiating benign, pre-malignant, and malignant vocal cord lesions.
- This technique enhances the diagnostic accuracy of vocal cord pathology when correlated with histology.