Endoscopic Reflux Laryngitis (Posterior)

The slides provided on this page should serve as a guide for diagnosing Reflux Laryngitis. Reflux Laryngitis is endoscopically observed in the majority of the patients with GERD, whether or not they suffer from heartburn and/or erosive esophagitis.  The following studies provide further support for the diagnostic importance of Reflux Laryngitis in patients with GERD.

• How to Increase the Diagnostic Yield of Upper GI Endoscopy in Patients with Non-Cardiac Chest Pain
• Incidence of Posterior Laryngeal Erythema and Edema in Patients Undergoing Upper GI Endoscopy
• Laryngeal Visualization During Upper GI Endoscopy Increases Diagnostic Yield in Patient with Gastoesophageal Reflux
• The Role of Gastroesophageal Reflux in Patients with Nonspecific GI Symptoms

Normal:

Mild:
 erythema posterior third of vocal cords and arytenoid area

Moderate:
diffuse posterior erythema, edema and piled-up mucosa of inter-arytenoid area

Severe:
ulceration or granulation of the posterior vocal cord area

 Granuloma of left vocal cord                 Ulceration of right vocal cord