Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study aims to compare the efficacy of narrow band imaging (NBI) endoscopy and contact endoscopy in early diagnosis of squamous malignancies of upper aerodigestive tract. METHODS: This study was of 18 months duration, sample size 50, and carried out at tertiary care hospital. The patients were subjected initially to NBI endoscopy followed by contact endoscopy. Thereafter, the lesion was biopsied and subjected to histopathological examination as is done routinely. The images obtained were analyzed based on criteria proposed by earlier studies and compared with histopathological examination as gold standard. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive values of NBI in early diagnosis of squamous malignancies of upper aerodigestive tract were high and better than contact endoscopy. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic NBI is a noninvasive and promising tool used for in vivo differentiation between malignant and nonmalignant lesions of upper aerodigestive tract by using morphology of mucosal capillaries and is more efficacious than contact endoscopy. It can be employed as part of routine ENT examination in outpatient departments; however, it has got a learning curve associated with it.