The prevalence of laryngeal pseudosulcus among Japanese patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux related symptoms

Infraglottic edema extending from the anterior commissure to the posterior larynx, called the laryngeal pseudosulcus, may have some value in the diagnosing of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence, sensitivity and specificity of this finding among Japanese patients with LPR-related symptoms. Forty-three patients diagnosed as LPR based on their symptoms and 42 control patients without LPR were enrolled. The presence of pseudosulcus was determined with transnasal fiberoptic laryngoscopy. Thirty-seven of the 43 patients with LPR and 13 of the 42 control patients had evidence of laryngeal pseudosulcus (p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of pseudosulcus in the symptom-based diagnosis of LPR are 86 and 69%, respectively. This study shows that laryngeal pseudosulcus is highly correlated with LPR-related symptoms. The presence of this finding is suggestive of LPR.