Transoral Endoscopic Examination of the Oropharynx With Tongue Protrusion, Phonation, and Open Mouth

Background/Aim: We examined the diagnostic performance of the tongue protrusion with phonation and open mouth (TOPPOM) method for visualizing structures of the oropharynx. Patients and Methods: Transoral endoscopy was performed on 20 healthy participants to evaluate 12 oropharynx subsites under three conditions: open mouth (OM), phonation with open mouth (POM), and TOPPOM. Each subsite was scored from 0 to 2 depending on subsite visualization, and the scores were summed. Images of subsite-adjacent mucosa were similarly scored. Results: The total scores were significantly higher for TOPPOM than for POM and for POM than for OM. Such scores were observed for both the palatine arches, both palatine tonsils, the left lingual tonsillar sulcus, and the vallecula. Conclusion: TOPPOM enables visualization of the oropharynx through transoral endoscopic examination, and TOPPOM with conventional transnasal endoscopy may enable early detection of oropharyngeal carcinomas and lesions and improve the performance of pre- and post-treatment evaluations.

Advances in the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Bleeding: Safety and Efficiency of Transnasal Endoscopy

Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a common disorder and a gastroenterological emergency. With the development of new techniques and devices, the survivability after gastrointestinal bleeding is improving. However, at the same time, we are facing the difficulty of severely complicated cases with various diseases. For example, while endoscopic examination with a normal diameter endoscope is essential for the diagnosis and treatment of UGIB, there are several cases in which it cannot be used. In these cases, transnasal endoscopy (TNE) may be a viable treatment option. This report reviews current hemostatic devices for endoscopic treatment and the safety and efficiency of using TNE in complicated cases. The latter will be demonstrated in a case report where TNE was employed in a patient with severe esophageal stenosis. This review summarizes the advances made in the devices used and will provide further ideas for the physician in terms of combining these devices and TNE.

Proton Pump Inhibitor-Associated Large Hyperplastic Polyp in Non-Helicobacter pylori-Infected Stomach

A proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-associated hyperplastic polyp (HP) in the non-<i>Helicobacter pylori</i>-infected stomach is rare, and its endoscopic features remain poorly described. A 42-year-old man with tarry stool was referred to our hospital for examination and treatment. He had taken PPI for 14 years and was confirmed to be <i>H. pylori</i>-negative. Transnasal endoscopy revealed bleeding from a 20-mm, reddish pedunculated polyp with a nodular surface, located in the greater curvature of the upper gastric body. Endoscopic mucosal resection was performed, and the lesion was diagnosed as an HP. To our knowledge, this report represents a valuable addition to the HP literature describing a rare case of PPI-associated large HP in the non-<i>H. pylori</i>-infected stomach.