Endoscopic Study of the Esophagus Using a Gastrointestinal-fiberscope and a Nasopharyngolaryngo-fiberscope

Comparison of esophageal endoscopy using a nasopharyngolaryngo-fiberscope (ENF type LB, Olympus Co., Ltd.) and a gastrointestinal-fiberscope (GIF type P3 or P2, Olympus Co., Ltd.) have been attempted. After a diagnosis of esophageal ulcer was made by a GIF in case 1, the ulcer was followed by an ENF, and an easier practice by ENF has been demonstrated in this case. In case 2, reflux esophagitis of the lower esophagus could be observed by an ENF, but the esophageal hiatus hernia in the distal portion was not found by an ENF and it was found by a GIF. In case 3, right recurrent nerve paralysis and cancer infiltration into the trachea could be detected by an ENF, but cancer located near the upper end of the esophagus could be only found by a GIF. In case 4, the ectopic gastric mucosa around the upper end of the esophagus could be found by an ENF when air was sent. Case 5 was a 2-year-old girl who visited us under suspicion of swallowing a plastic foreign body into the trachea, bronchi or into the esophagus. No foreign body could be found in the trachea, bronchi, stomach and esophagus by an ENF under local anesthesia.