Initial experience of endoscopic phonosurgery with a prototype of the therapeutic rhinolarynx electronic endoscope.

We performed endoscopic phonosurgery in a patient with a laryngeal lesion using a prototype of the therapeutic rhino-larynx electronic endoscope connected to a video processor (Asahi Optical Co., Ltd.). This therapeutic electronic endoscope differs from the fiberoptic endoscope, because it contains an instrument channel and a miniature television camera attached to the tip of the endoscope, consisting of a small light-sensitive CCD chip. The dynamic image provided by this system is superior in resolution to that obtained by conventional flexible laryngofiberscopes. Using this therapeutic electronic endoscope and flexible forceps, we succeeded in removing a vocal fold polyp. This endoscope can be passed through the nasal passage into the laryngeal cavity. The therapeutic electronic endoscope is introduced and a clinical case is presented.