General information
Other names
| Where It's Done | Who Does It | How Long It Takes | Discomfort/Pain |
| Hospital or outpatient surgery clinic. | Surgeon. | About 45 minutes (but you may spend the entire day and possibly the night). | Your throat will be anesthetized, so you should feel no discomfort. |
| Results Ready When | Special Equipment | Risks/Complications | Average Cost |
| Immediately unless a lab report is needed. In that case, 3-5 days. | Fiber-optic laryngoscope, X-ray equipment, and video monitor. | There is risk of injury to the mouth and throat structures, but this is relatively rare. | $$$ |
None.
Purpose- To locate a mass, such as a polyp or tumor.
- To obtain a tissue sample for laboratory analysis.
- To determine the severity of an already diagnosed malignancy.
A flexible fiber-optic tube is used to directly assess the structures of the oral cavity and throat, and a rigid tube may then be used to obtain the tissue sample.
Preparation- Several days before the test, you may have a routine chest X-ray, a barium swallow, and a CT scan.
- Avoid taking aspirin and acetaminophen at least two weeks prior to the scheduled procedure. If you are taking a blood-thinning drug such as Coumadin, you may also need to discontinue it.
- You will be asked to refrain from eating or drinking for several hours before the test.
- On the day of the test, you undress and don a hospital gown.
- You may be given general anesthesia, or a topical anesthetic may be sprayed into your throat to numb it and limit the gag reflex.
- The surgeon will use a laryngoscope to examine your mouth and throat.
- A dye called toluidine blue, which stains abnormal cells, may be applied to indicate areas for biopsy.
- If a biopsy is warranted, a rigid scope may be used to help remove the tissue sample.
- Photographs of any suspicious areas may also be taken.
Panendoscopy encompasses the use of direct laryngoscopy, bronchoscopy, and esophagoscopy in the evaluation of the head and neck-cancer patient.
After the test- You may be kept for 24-hour observation after a laryngoscopy.
- You should be able to return to normal activities within a few days, although you may have a lingering sore throat and you may cough up blood.
- If you notice an excessive amount of blood or if you develop a high fever or any other signs of infection, call your doctor immediately.
Inadequate sample.
InterpretationThe surgeon is able to see the structures directly. Tissue samples are examined by a pathologist.
Advantages- It allows for direct examination and biopsy in the same procedure.
- It provides quick results.
- It's invasive.
- It's expensive.
- The test is considered definitive, and surgery may be recommended.
- If the mass is cancerous, radiation or surgery may be recommended.
The Patient's Guide to Medical Tests by Faculty Members at The Yale University of Medicine and G.S. Sharpe Communications, Inc. Copyright © 1997 by Yale University of Medicine and G.S. Sharpe Communications, Inc. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
