Demographic and clinic-pathologic characteristics of both groups
Both groups, trans-oral and trans-nasal groups are comparable with regard the age and gender. The mean age was 63.8 ± 11.8 and 63.9 ± 11.8 years in the trans-oral group and trans-nasal group, respectively (p-value = 1.000). The males are more than females in both groups; 86.7% & 90.0% in the trans-oral group and trans-nasal group, respectively (p-value = 0.688) (Table 1).
The majority of patients in both groups are smokers; 83.3% and 76.7% in the trans-oral group and trans-nasal group, respectively (p-value = 0.519).
The main complaint in both groups was dysphonia; 80.0% and 80.0% in the trans-oral group and trans-nasal group, respectively (p-value = 0.475). The most frequent cause of referral for biopsy was suspicious laryngeal mass in both groups; mentioned in 80.0% of both groups (p-value 0.736). Other causes were post cricoid mass, pharyngeal mass and vallecular lymph node, as shown in Table 1.
The most frequent approach for visualization in both groups was the trans-nasal; used in 29 (96.7%) of cases in both groups, (p-value = 1.000). In addition, the methods of anesthesia were comparable between groups, with the trans-cricothyroid injection of xylocaine as the most frequent method in both groups; used in 63.3% and 56.7% in the trans-oral group and trans-nasal group, respectively (p-value = 0.835).
The time needed for the procedures was less in the trans-oral group (7.9 ± 1.6 minutes) than in the trans-nasal group (9.3 ± 3.6), (p-value = 0.051). However, the number of biopsies obtained was significantly higher in the trans-oral group (3.7 ± 1.0) than in the trans-nasal group (3.1 ± 0.9), (p-value = 0.013).
Size of obtained biopsies were comparable between both groups (p-value = 0.574). The most frequent size was 0.5 mg obtained from 19 (63.3%) & 17 (56.7%) via the trans-oral and the trans-nasal approaches, respectively (Table 1).
Results of histopathological examination were squamous cell carcinoma in 80.0% and 20.0% of the trans-oral group and trans-nasal group, respectively (p-value < 0.001). Other results were inflammatory cells, dysplasia and papilloma seen in (3.3%, 13.3% & 3.3%) and (56.7%, 13.3% & 10.0%) of the trans-oral group and trans-nasal group, respectively (Table 1).