Role of narrow band imaging in the diagnostics of sinonasal pathology

Malignancies of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses are well known, but have uncommon presentations. Late diagnosis and local extension are significant prognostic factors associated with a poorer treatment outcome. Thus, refinements of the diagnostic procedures to enhance the sensitivity of the clinical evaluation are desirable. We here describe a case of endonasal lymphoma, in which the lesion was hardly visible and initially ignored at ordinary white light (WLI) nasoendoscopy, but easily recognisable, clearly pathogenic and well demarcated when illuminated with narrow band imaging (NBI) at a later session. In general, with regard to mucosal-derived pathology of the upper aerodigestive tract, the diagnostic gain of NBI-assisted endoscopy in comparison with that of WLI has been proved in several articles. The focus has however been on neoplasm in laryngopharynx and oesophagus. The authors recommend broadening the use of NBI to include all evaluations of nasal mucosa, when malignancy is suspected.

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