Current value of double-contrast pharyngography and of computed tomographyfor the detection and for staging of hypopharyngeal, oropharyngeal and supraglottic tumors

In light of recent endoscopic techniques the current value of double-contra st pharynography (DCP) and of CT for detection and staging of hyporopharyng eal, and supraglottic tumors is evaluated. The DCP of 151 patients and CT o btained from 99 of these patients were retrospectively analyzed in a double -blinded manner. We used a standard protocol which comprised all relevant a natomical subregions. Results were compared with direct microlaryngoscopy ( DL), indirect laryngoscopy (IL), and post-operative histopathological findi ngs. Sensitivity and specificity of DCP was 75.0% and 86.7%, respectively. The DCP and IL techniques together yielded a higher sensitivity (96.7%) tha n each method separately. Sensitivity and specificity of CT was 87.5 and 10 0%, respectively. In 74.7% CT provided correct staging. Subregional analysi s revealed that the results of DCP and CT depend highly on the localization of the tumor. Our results indicate that DCP represents an important screen ing method for diagnosing hypo-oropharyngeal, and supraglottic tumors to co mplete IL and DL. We show that CT is a reliable method for preoperative sta ging, although small superficial tumors may occasionally be missed by this method.