Application of unsedated transnasal esophagogastroduodenoscopy in the diagnosis of hypopharyngeal cancer.

BACKGROUND This study evaluates the efficacy of unsedated transnasal esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in the diagnosis of hypopharyngeal cancer and screening of esophageal lesions. METHODS Twenty-seven patients with newly diagnosed hypopharyngeal cancer were evaluated by transnasal EGD without conscious sedation. RESULTS Twenty-two hypopharyngeal cancers arose from the pyriform sinus, and the other 5 tumors were from the posterior hypopharyngeal wall. Seventeen tumors were classified as T3-T4. Twenty-four hypopharyngeal tumors were pathologically proved malignancy by this technique. Regarding simultaneous esophageal lesions, esophageal dysplasia was noted in 4 patients and esophageal cancer occurred in 6 patients. The procedures were performed without difficulty except in 1 patient with huge posterior wall tumor. The mean procedure time was 22 minutes. All patients tolerated the procedure well, without significant bleeding or respiratory distress during examination. CONCLUSION Unsedated transnasal EGD is a safe, tolerable, and accurate endoscopic technique for diagnosis of hypopharyngeal cancer and screening of simultaneous esophageal cancer.