Role of Laryngeal Ultrasonography in screening for laryngeal diseases in symptomatic patients

Abstract Background Laryngoscopy is widely considered the most appropriate tool for evaluating the larynx, however, it is invasive and not all patients can tolerate it. Although laryngeal ultrasound has been proposed as a promising noninvasive technique that can play an important role in laryngeal imaging, there is lack of consensus regarding its role. Objective The aim of this study is to assess laryngeal ultrasound sensitivity compared to indirect laryngoscopy in screening for laryngeal diseases in symptomatic patients. Patients and methods 30 undiagnosed symptomatic patients underwent laryngeal ultrasound and indirect laryngoscopy. Their results were compared. Results Technical success rate of laryngeal ultrasound was (83%). It showed overall sensitivity of (78.9%) in detecting organic laryngeal diseases with high sensitivity in detecting laryngeal masses, reinke’s edema, vocal cord cysts and polyps (100%), vocal cord palsy (83.3%), intermediate sensitivity for vocal cord nodules (66.7%), and poor sensitivity for laryngitis and non organic voice disorders (0%). Conclusion Laryngeal ultrasound is a useful non invasive imaging tool that can be used with acceptable sensitivity in detecting organic laryngeal diseases excluding laryngitis, hindered mainly by complete thyroid cartilage calcification in older males. Consequently we recommend its use as complementary to clinical examination and mirror laryngoscopy, or as an alternative to indirect laryngoscopy when required and in routine neck ultrasound exams when appropriate.