Role of Ultrasound in Diagnosis of Laryngeal Lesions

The larynx contains the vocal cords and serves as the opening to the tracheobronchial tree. Laryngeal lesions include: benign laryngeal tumors, contact ulcers, laryngitis, laryngeoceles, malignant laryngeal tumors, spasmodic dysphonia, vocal cord paralysis, vocal cord polyps, nodules and granulomas.

Laryngeal cancers account for about one quarter of all head and neck cancers, most of which affect the true vocal cords. Black men are affected more commonly than white men. The male to female incidence ratio is about 4:1.

Laryngeal cancer is the 19th most common cause of cancer death worldwide, with around 83,400 deaths from laryngeal cancer in 2012 (1% of total cancer deaths). Cancer of larynx is one of the most common malignancies in Europe, with about 52,000 new cases per year. The yearly incidence rate in Europe is about 8 per 100,000.

Different methods were used successfully for the diagnosis of many laryngeal diseases. Rigid endoscope was used for laryngeal evaluation with the advantage that the image is large, bright and clear which allows early diagnosis of the lesion (Shao et al, 2002).

Unfortunately, not all patients can tolerate the laryngoscope especially those with a sensitive gag reflex, patients with limit of jaw or neck mobility or patients suffering from stridor. It is also difficult in most infants and children .