Bronchial intraepithelial neoplastic lesions in head and neck cancer patients: results of autofluorescence bronchoscopy.

To determine the efficacy of autofluorescence bronchoscopy for detection of bronchial intraepithelial neoplastic lesions in head and neck cancer patients, we analyzed data from head and neck cancer patients who underwent both white light bronchoscopy and autofluorescence bronchoscopy for the rates of detection of intraepithelial neoplastic lesions. The results of the histopathologic examination were compared with the bronchoscopic findings. The sensitivity for detection of intraepithelial neoplastic lesions was calculated. Eleven moderate dysplasias and 3 severe dysplasias were detected during 8 of the 42 bronchoscopic examinations (19%) in 6 of the 24 patients (25%). The sensitivities for white light bronchoscopy alone and for white light bronchoscopy combined with autofluorescence bronchoscopy for detection of intraepithelial neoplastic lesions were, respectively, 21% (3 of 14) and 57% (8 of 14). In short, bronchial intraepithelial neoplastic lesions were found in a considerable percentage of head and neck cancer patients. Use of autofluorescence bronchoscopy improved the detection of these lesions.