Dysphonia in pharyngolaryngeal reflux: evaluation of acid lesions with video endoscopy

BACKGROUND: In this study, the authors assessed the injury of acid reflux on the mucosa of laryngopharyngeal district, and the associated symptoms, dysphonia especially. METHODS: Data from 270 patients, collected in 18 months, have been evaluated by video laryngoscopy. Sixty-two presented dysphonia, associated with symptoms of reflux disease. Later the patients have been investigated for the presence of reflux esophagitis by endoscopic examination and assessed the 24 hours pH value, by ph-metry. RESULTS: The results showed that only 26 patients presented signs of reflux esophagitis. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion we can assert that some important endoscopic signs recorded, such as edema and hyperemia of arytenoids, thickening the region interarytenoid, granulomas of the posterior portion of the true vocal cords, can be considered as valuable indicators of reflux disease. In many cases a simple dysphonia may represent a precise signal of disease of gastro-esophageal reflux, even in the absence of endoscopic marks of esophagitis.