Question
Recently, my father had a gastroscopy pathology report that indicated moderate to severe atypical hyperplasia in the esophagus. There is local cancerous change. Can an indirect laryngoscopy detect cancer?
Answer
An indirect laryngoscope is a small mirror with a long handle. The doctor holds the patient’s tongue and places the mirror in the mouth, utilizing the mirror’s reflection principle to examine areas such as the base of the tongue, tonsils, epiglottis, and vocal cords, which are part of the larynx. This includes checking for any new growths at the base of the tongue, tonsillar crypts, and tonsillar posterior side for new growths and calculi. It also examines whether there are cysts in the epiglottis, whether there are new growths in the vallecula, and whether there is edema or esophageal reflux at the entrance of the esophagus. Additionally, it checks for signs of congestion and edema in the vocal cords, as well as any new growths, incomplete closure during vocal cord pronunciation, or vocal cord paralysis.