Objectives/hypothesis: Narrow band imaging combined with magnifying endoscopy (NBI-ME) is useful for the detection of superficial cancer in the oropharynx, hypopharynx, and esophagus. We used NBI-ME to evaluate the frequency of superficial cancer spread (SCS) contiguous with advanced oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers and esophageal cancers.
Study design: Retrospective.
Methods: We retrospectively studied 45 patients with oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer and 44 with esophageal cancer who underwent NBI-ME from October 2006 through April 2009. The following variables were evaluated: 1) the frequency of SCS contiguous with advanced oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer and esophageal cancer, and 2) the influence of SCS contiguous with advanced oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer on clinical T category and clinical stage.
Results: SCS contiguous with the primary tumor was found in 49% (22/45) of the patients with advanced oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer and in 52% (23/44) of those with advanced esophageal cancer. When SCS contiguous with the primary tumor was included in the evaluation of tumor size in advanced oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer, the clinical T category and clinical stage were revised in 20% (9/45) and 4% (2/45) of patients, respectively; SCS was ≤ 2 cm in 64% of cases (14/22) and between >2 cm and ≤ 4 cm in 36% (8/22).
Conclusions: NBI-ME should be included in the pretreatment diagnostic work-up to evaluate lesion extent and decide optimal surgical margins and radiation fields in patients with advanced oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer.
Copyright © 2011 The American Laryngological, Rhinological, and Otological Society, Inc.