Is there any association between esophagogastric endoscopic findings and laryngeal cancer?

Analysis of reflux as the aetiology of laryngeal dysplasia progression through a matched case-control study

OBJECTIVES

Laryngeal dysplasia (LD) is a precancerous lesion of the larynx. In this study, the laryngeal tissue of patients with laryngeal dysplasia was taken as the research object, and the aetiology of reflux was analysed.

METHOD

Patients with laryngeal dysplasia after surgery were selected as our subjects. The levels of pepsin, enterokinase and bilirubin in laryngeal tissue samples of the two groups were detected by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTS

The OR values (95% CI) of pepsin, enterokinase and bilirubin were 0.67 (0.19-2.36), 0.80 (0.22-2.98) and 1.33 (0.30-5.96), respectively, in the univariate analysis. Besides, in the multivariate analysis, the OR values (95% CI) of pepsin, enterokinase and bilirubin were 0.57 (0.14-2.30), 0.73 (0.18-2.92) and 1.40 (0.30-6.53), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Larger sample size should be applied to prospective studies on whether reflux is a risk factor for laryngeal cancer.

Pepsin and Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Carcinomas

Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas are common malignant tumors of the head and neck, and the incidence of both is increasing. Laryngopharyngeal reflux refers to the retrograde flow of gastric contents into the larynx, oropharynx, and/or nasopharynx. It remains controversial whether laryngopharyngeal reflux is a risk factor for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers. The refluxing substances mainly include hydrochloric acid, pepsin, and occasionally bile acids and bile salts, as well as bacteria that colonize the gastrointestinal tract. Loss of epithelium in the mucous membrane of the larynx and hypopharynx is thought to be caused by pepsin. Here, we review the relationships between laryngopharyngeal reflux and both laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas, as well as the significance of pepsin, methods of clinical detection, and the mechanism of carcinogenesis.

Gastroesophageal and Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Associated With Laryngeal Malignancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Gastric reflux may lead to chronic mucosal inflammation and contribute to development of laryngeal malignancies, although there is controversy over this association. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess this relationship and determine the risk of laryngeal malignancy in patients with reflux disease.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis, searching MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases from 1900 through April 9, 2018, for observational studies of adults reporting associations between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and/or laryngopharyngeal reflux and the risk of having or developing laryngeal malignancies. An itemized assessment of the risk of bias was conducted for each study that met inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis was performed using the Mantel-Haenszel method with random effects to account for heterogeneity. We performed subgroup analyses to determine the effect of reflux type, study design, diagnostic method, and confounding variables on the overall risk.

RESULTS

Of the 957 studies that were identified during systematic review, 18 case-control studies met the criteria for analysis. Our meta-analysis showed that reflux disease significantly increased the risk of laryngeal malignancy (odds ratio, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.90-3.21; P < .00001; I² = 94%). This association remained when controlling for patient smoking and drinking (odds ratio, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.26-3.41). There was no statistically significant difference in risk of laryngeal malignancies between patients with GERD vs laryngopharyngeal reflux (P = .44).

CONCLUSIONS

In a systematic review and meta-analysis, we found a significant association between reflux disease and the presence of laryngeal malignancy. Prospective studies should be performed to examine this relationship.

Gastroesophageal reflux and carcinoma of larynx or pharynx: a meta-analysis

CONCLUSION

The meta-analysis supported the proposition that the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was associated with laryngeal cancer, particularly in the hospital-based control group and diagnosed by esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) or esophageal pH monitoring. However, no significant association was found between GERD and pharyngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES

A number of studies have been conducted to investigate the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux and laryngeal or pharyngeal carcinoma. The conclusions are still debated.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review of studies associated with the prevalence of GERD in laryngeal or pharyngeal cancer, published up to November 2013.Odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using random effects models or fixed effects models, according to heterogeneity I(2).

RESULTS

Ten studies were included in this meta-analysis. On average, GERD was significantly higher in the tumor tissue of the study group compared with normal tissue of the control group (OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.50, 3.14; random effects analysis). The pooled ORs for laryngeal carcinoma were 2.21 (95% CI = 1.53-3.19; I(2) = 97, random effects model) and 3.76 (95% CI = 0.21-67.48; I(2) = 94, random effects model) for pharyngeal carcinoma.

Relationship between reflux and laryngeal cancer

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or its variation known as laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), has been recognized as a potential cause of several laryngeal disorders. Patients with laryngeal cancer have lifestyle risk factors, especially tobacco and alcohol consumption, that play an etiological role in the development of their cancer but also places them at risk for reflux. The question then arises whether there is merely an association or a causal relationship between laryngeal cancer and reflux. However, despite a number of studies, a causal relationship with laryngeal cancer is uncertain. In this article, we address the current literature in a critical manner to evaluate the relationship between reflux and laryngeal cancer. From the review of the literature, we conclude that there is insufficient evidence to support a causal role of reflux in laryngeal cancer, mainly because of the confounding effect of tobacco and alcohol consumption and the inaccuracies in the diagnosis of reflux.

Gastric reflux is an independent risk factor for laryngopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Gastric reflux can reach into the upper airway, inducing cellular damage in the epithelial lining. This condition is believed to be a risk factor for development of laryngopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LPSCC), although the literature is conflicting.

METHODS

To better clarify this relationship, we assessed the association of self-reported heartburn history and medication use among 631 patients with LPSCCs and 1234 control subjects (frequency-matched on age, gender, and town of residence) enrolled as part of a population-based case-control study of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in the greater Boston area.

RESULTS

After adjusting for age, gender, race, smoking, alcohol consumption, HPV16 seropositivity, education, and body mass index, subjects reporting a history of frequent heartburn and who were neither a heavy smoker nor heavy drinker had a significantly elevated risk of LPSCCs [OR, 1.78; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.00-3.16]. Among those with a history of heartburn, there was an inverse association between antacid use and LPSCCs relative to those never taking heartburn medication (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.38-0.93) that remained consistent when analyzed by smoking/drinking status, HPV16 status, or by primary tumor site.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data show that gastric reflux is an independent risk factor for squamous cancers of the pharynx and larynx. Further studies are needed to clarify the possible chemopreventive role of antacid use for patients with gastric reflux.

IMPACT

Elucidation of additional risk factors for head and neck cancer can allow for risk stratification and inform surveillance of high-risk patients.