OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of 3-site 24-hour ambulatory pH
monitoring in patients with posterior laryngitis (PL) and the prevalence o
f esophageal abnormalities in this patient group.
METHODS: Twenty patients with PL and 17 healthy volunteers were studied as
controls. Control subjects had transnasal esophagogastroduodenoscopy (T-EGD
) and ambulatory pH monitoring. Patients underwent T-EGD, ambulatory pH mon
itoring, and barium esophagram
RESULTS: T-EGD documented no abnormality in controls. Esophagitis was prese
nt in 2 PL patients, and hiatal hernia in 3. Ambulatory pH monitoring showe
d that 15 PL patients and 2 controls exhibited pharyngeal acid reflux, Bari
um esophagram documented gastroesophageal reflux in 5 PL patients. However,
none of these barium reflux events reached the pharynx. All PL patients wi
th barium esophagram evidence of gastroesophageal reflux also showed pharyn
geal acid reflux by pH monitoring.
CONCLUSION: Pharyngeal acid reflux is more prevalent in patients with PL th
an in healthy controls. Patients with PL infrequently have esophageal seque
lae of reflux disease. Ambulatory 24-hour simultaneous 3-site pharyngoesoph
ageal pH monitoring detects gastroesophagopharyngeal acid reflux events in
most patients with PL.