Correlations between Videostroboscopy and Constant Light Examination with Intraoperative Findings and Histopathology—Our Experience

Objective: To assess the role of stroboscopy in the diagnosis of vocal cord lesions. Study Design: Prospective interventional study. Setting: Academic tertiary care medical centre. Materials and Methods: 50 patients with complaints of hoarseness of voice were clinically evaluated and diagnosis was made using Rigid Videolaryngoscopy, Flexible Videolaryngoscopy and Videostroboscopy. Patients underwent microlaryngeal surgery and a final diagnosis made with histopathological examination. The intra-operative findings and the final histopathological diagnosis were compared with the diagnosis made with rigid, flexible videolaryngoscopy and stroboscopy. Results: Intra-operative findings correlated with stroboscopic findings in 84% of patients, with fibreopticlaryngo-pharyngoscopic diagnosis in 54% of patients and with rigid video-laryngoscopy in 46% of patients. Videostroboscopy showed the highest diagnostic co-relation on histopathology (80%) as compared to rigid videoendoscopy (56%) and flexible videolaryngoscopy (58%). Videostroboscopy also elucidated vocal fold abnormalities that were missed on rigid or flexible laryngoscopic examinations. Conclusion: Videostroboscopy is a valuable complement to a thorough vocal history and physical examination. Videostroboscopy is superior to constant light laryngeal examination in diagnosis of vocal cord lesions.