[Examination of the patient with supraglottic carcinoma at the medical office. Contribution of the rigid optical devices and the fiberscope].

Seventy one patients afflicted of supraglottic carcinoma were included in a prospective study whose purpose was to determine which of three optical tools available at the medical office--indirect mirror laryngoscopy, laryngotelescopy and fiberscopic examination--is the most suitable to examine the larynx of patients with this disease. No significant differences were found among these explorations in the easily observable regions, as the hypopharyngeal areas and the epilarynx. The examination of the pericommisural region--the most difficult area to see--was easier with the flexible fiberscope. The laryngotelescope provided better visualization than the mirror laryngoscopy. Exploration with the new optical devices did not correct the errors in the interpretation of images made with the mirror laryngoscopy. We conclude that flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy provides better information than other diagnostic tools for the assessment of patients with supraglottic carcinoma at the medical office.