Ultrasonography and laryngoscopic findings are similar in detecting laryngeal lesions

Aims: There is a growing need for alternative maneuvers for diagnosing laryngeal diseases. The objective of this study is to evaluate laryngeal ultrasound as an alternative to laryngeal endoscopy in diagnosis and assessment of various laryngeal lesions. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted at the E.N.T. outpatient clinic of Minia University Hospital. The study included 50 patients (28 males and 22 females) with laryngeal lesions. Patients were examined by direct laryngoscopy and then were examined by using high resolution ultrasonography. Results: No significant differences between direct laryngoscopy (DL) and ultrasonography diagnosis results. By DL, bilateral vocal fold nodule was diagnosed in 14 cases. However, ultrasound diagnosed only 11 cases of them. 16 cases were diagnosed with left or right vocal fold polyp and the ultrasound diagnosed 15 cases of them. 10 patients were diagnosed as glottal mass and the ultrasound diagnosed only 8 cases of them. For vocal fold cyst, four cases were diagnosed by both DL and ultrasound. Also, for Reinke's edema, four cases were diagnosed by both DL and ultrasound. One case was diagnosed as Laryngeocele by both maneuvers. One case was diagnosed as Laryngeoscleroma by DL while it was not diagnosed by ultrasound. Conclusion: Ultrasonography could be used effectively as an alternative technique to direct endoscopy in diagnosis of different laryngeal lesions.