To determine the diagnostic accuracy of fiber-optic laryngoscopy in suspected Carcinoma Larynx patients.

Abstract

Objective: To determine diagnostic accuracy of fiber-optic laryngoscopy in suspected Carcinoma Larynx patients. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Ear Nose and throat at People’s Medical College hospital Nawabshah, Sindh. Period: 1^st July 2021 to 31^st December 2021. Material & Methods: The sample size of the study was 176. The inclusion criteria involved age >20- 60 years, either gender, patients presenting with clinical symptoms of hoarseness of voice, with or without difficulty in swallowing, persistent cough, weight loss for one month, visiting outpatient department. Patients with bleeding disorders were excluded. Results: Out of 176 patients included in the study the mean age of the patients was 36.23± 3.7 years. Mostly the age range of the patients involved 30-35 yrs., n=76(43.2%), the male to female ratio was 1.2:1 (n=98:78) (55.7%: 44.3%). The sensitivity was 89.2%, the specificity was 78.3%, positive predictive value was 70.7%, negative predictive value was 92.5%, diagnostic accuracy was 82.3%. Conclusion: Our study showed that all patients with high suspicion should have undergone diagnostic testing with flexible as well as direct laryngoscopy to diagnose laryngeal cancers at early stage, so that patients benefit with early treatment with high cure rates.