Revaluation of Reflux Finding Score(RFS) in Laryngopharyngeal Reflux(LPR)

인후두역류증의 진단에 있어서 후두내시경검사 소견 점수화의 유용성에 대한 재검증

Background and Objectives : In general, ambulatory 24-hour pH monitoring is considered the current gold standard for larynogopharyngeal reflux(LPR). There is no validated instrument whose purpose is to document the physical finding and severity of laryngopharyngeal reflux. The purposes of this study are to revaluate the validity and reliability of the reflux finding score(RFS) and to quantify laryngoscopic findings using reflux finding score. Material and Methods : Thirty-three LPR patients confirmed by dual-probe pH monitoring and thirty patients of control were selected. The RFS was documented for each patient with telescopic laryngoscopy before treatment. For test-retest intraobserver reliability assessment, a blinded laryngologists determined the RFS on two separate occasions. To evaluate interobserver reliability assessment, the RFS was determined by t재 different blinded laryngologists. Results : The mean age of the cohort with pH-documented LPR was 45.8 years and the mean RFS was 11.4. The mean age of cotrol subjects was 52 years and the mean RFS was 5.4. The mean RFS for laryngologist no. 1 was 10.8 at the initial screening and 10.9 at the repeat evaluation. The mean FRS for laryngologist no.2 was 11.1 at the intial test and 10.9 at the repeat evaluation. The correlation coefficient for interobserver variability was 0.93 and intraobserver variability was 0.94. Conclusion : The RFS demonstrates excellent inter-and introaobserver reproducibility and is helpful for quantifying laryngeal finding in LPR. We can be 95% certain that an individual with a RFS greater than 7 has LPR.