Topographic and Histological Distribution of Carcinoma Pharynx and Larynx: Fiber Optic Laryngoscopic (FOL) Study of 700 Cases

Background: In Bangladesh, in 2020 estimated number of new cancer cases were 156775 and number of deaths were 108990. Carcinoma pharynx and larynx in 2020 were 7.86% and 3.4% of total new cancer cases, 5.71% and 3% of total cancer deaths. Fiber optic laryngoscopy (FOL) has been established as a valuable diagnostic tool and its accuracy is 80.65%. Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to see the topographic and histological distribution of pharyngeal and laryngeal cancers and secondary objective was to assess the role of Flexible Endoscopic Biopsy (FEB) in the diagnosis of cancers. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was done from March 2021 to October 2022 at Mount Adora Hospital, Akhalia, Sylhet, Bangladesh. All suspected pharyngeal and laryngeal cancer patients attending in this hospital for FOL and FEB were included in this study in a convenient sampling method. Benign, recurrence and residual cases were excluded from this study. Results: Total 700 patients of suspected pharyngeal and laryngeal tumour were included in this study. Sensitivity of FEB was 98.3%. FOL was 91% successful in acquiring a definite diagnosis. The age of the patients ranged from 15 to 100 years with a mean age of 58.48 year (SD=13.26). Male, Femaleratio was 5.92:1. Nasopharyngeal cancer affected younger age group (mean age 39.59 year). Pharyngeal cancer was more common (62.9%) than laryngeal cancer (37.1%). Hypopharynx (63.2%) was most common site for pharyngeal cancers. In laryngeal cancer, supraglottic was more common (60%). In hypopharyngeal cancer, pyriform fossa was the commonest site (87%). Squamous cell carcinoma (99.21%) was the most common histological diagnosis. Conclusion: Pharynx was more frequent site than larynx for cancers. Supraglottic region was the most common site for laryngeal and pyriform sinus was the most common site for hypopharyngeal cancers. Nasopharyngeal cancer affected younger age group. Common histological diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma. Flexible Endoscopic Biopsy (FEB) was highly sensitive. Bangladesh Medical Res Counc Bull 2023; 49(1): 63-69