Utility of narrowband imaging in the diagnosis of laryngeal leukoplakia: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Sejad Ahmadzada; Kartik Vasan; Niranjan Sritharan; Narinder Singh; Mark Smith; Isabelle Hull; Faruque Riffat

doi:10.1002/hed.26428

Utility of narrowband imaging in the diagnosis of laryngeal leukoplakia: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Head Neck. 2020 Nov;42(11):3427-3437. doi: 10.1002/hed.26428. Epub 2020 Sep 23.

Authors

Sejad Ahmadzada^{1

2}, Kartik Vasan², Niranjan Sritharan^{1

3}, Narinder Singh^{1

2}, Mark Smith^{1

3}, Isabelle Hull⁴, Faruque Riffat^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.
² The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
³ Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Nepean Hospital, Nepean, New South Wales, Australia.
⁴ Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

PMID: 32965766
DOI: 10.1002/hed.26428

Abstract

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the validity of narrowband imaging (NBI) in differentiating between low-risk leukoplakia and high-risk leukoplakia. Medline, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects were searched. Studies evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of NBI in the assessment of laryngeal leukoplakia were included. Pooled sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic odds ratio were calculated. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria assessing a total of 586 lesions with laryngeal leukoplakia. In differentiating between low-risk and high-risk leukoplakia, NBI had a pooled sensitivity and specificity of 85.4% (95% CI [76-99.9]) and 94.9% (95% CI [91.1-97.2]) respectively. Pooled diagnostic odds ratio was 99.2 (95% CI [38.28-257.18]). NBI is a useful imaging modality in differentiating between low-risk leukoplakia and high-risk laryngeal leukoplakia. The high sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic odds ratio make NBI a useful tool in the workup of laryngeal leukoplakia.

Keywords: Ni classification; laryngeal cancer; leukoplakia; narrowband imaging.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Laryngeal Diseases*
Leukoplakia
Narrow Band Imaging*
Sensitivity and Specificity