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World J Gastrointest Endosc. Jul 16, 2023; 15(7): 496-509
Published online Jul 16, 2023. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v15.i7.496
Review of oral and pharyngolaryngeal benign lesions detected during esophagogastroduodenoscopy
Masaya Iwamuro, Kenta Hamada, Seiji Kawano, Yoshiro Kawahara, Motoyuki Otsuka
Masaya Iwamuro, Kenta Hamada, Seiji Kawano, Motoyuki Otsuka, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
Yoshiro Kawahara, Department of Practical Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
Author contributions: Iwamuro M designed the research study and wrote the paper; Iwamuro M, Hamada K, Kawano S, and Kawahara Y collected the data; Hamada K critically reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content; and Otsuka M approved the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Masaya Iwamuro, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Doctor, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-Ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan. pr145h2k@okayama-u.ac.jp
Received: February 27, 2023
Peer-review started: February 27, 2023
First decision: May 16, 2023
Revised: May 30, 2023
Accepted: June 14, 2023
Article in press: June 14, 2023
Published online: July 16, 2023
Abstract

Recent advancements in endoscopy equipment have facilitated endoscopists’ detection of neoplasms in the oral cavity and pharyngolaryngeal regions. In particular, image-enhanced endoscopy using narrow band imaging or blue laser imaging play an integral role in the endoscopic diagnosis of oral and pharyngolaryngeal cancers. Despite these advancements, limited studies have focused on benign lesions that can be observed during esophagogastroduodenoscopy in the oral and pharyngolaryngeal regions. Therefore, this mini-review aimed to provide essential information on such benign lesions, along with representative endoscopic images of dental caries, cleft palate, palatal torus, bifid uvula, compression by cervical osteophytes, tonsil hyperplasia, black hairy tongue, oral candidiasis, oral and pharyngolaryngeal ulcers, pharyngeal melanosis, oral tattoos associated with dental alloys, retention cysts, papilloma, radiation-induced changes, skin flaps, vocal cord paresis, and vocal fold leukoplakia. Whilst it is imperative to seek consultation from otolaryngologists or dentists in instances where the diagnosis cannot be definitively ascertained by endoscopists, the merits of attaining foundational expertise pertaining to oral and pharyngolaryngeal lesions are unequivocal. This article will be a valuable resource for endoscopists seeking to enhance their understanding of oral and pharyngolaryngeal lesions.

Keywords: Benign diseases, Diagnosis, Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, Non-neoplastic lesions, Oral lesions, Pharyngolaryngeal lesions

Core Tip: During esophagogastroduodenoscopy, various lesions other than squamous cell carcinoma can be detected in the oral cavity and pharyngolaryngeal regions. These include dental caries, cleft palate, palatal torus, bifid uvula, compression by cervical osteophytes, tonsil hyperplasia, black hairy tongue, oral candidiasis, oral and pharyngolaryngeal ulcers, pharyngeal melanosis, oral tattoos associated with dental alloys, retention cysts, papilloma, radiation-induced changes, skin flaps, vocal cord paresis, and vocal fold leukoplakia. Endoscopists must possess adequate knowledge about these lesions and promptly identify and diagnose them during an endoscopic examination.