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. 2019 Sep-Oct;85(5):588-596.
doi: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2018.04.014. Epub 2018 Jun 11.

A morphological classification for vocal fold leukoplakia

Min Chen  1 , Changjiang Li  1 , Yue Yang  1 , Lei Cheng  2 , Haitao Wu  3
Affiliations

A morphological classification for vocal fold leukoplakia

Min Chen et al. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2019 Sep-Oct.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Introduction: There is still no general method for discriminating between benign and malignant leukoplakia and identifying vocal fold leukoplakia.

Objective: To evaluate the reliability of a morphological classification and the correlation between morphological types and pathological grades of vocal fold leukoplakia.

Methods: A total of 375 patients with vocal fold leukoplakia between 2009 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Two observers divided the vocal fold leukoplakia into flat and smooth, elevated and smooth, and rough type on the basis of morphological appearance. The inter-observer reliability was evaluated and the results of classification from both observers were compared with final pathological grades. Clinical characteristics between low risk and high risk group were also analyzed.

Results: The percentage inter-observer agreement of the morphological classification was 78.7% (κ=0.615, p<0.001). In the results from both observers, the morphological types were significantly correlated with the pathological grades (p1<0.001, p2<0.001, Kruskal-Wallis test; r1=0.646, p1<0.001, r2=0.539, p2<0.001, Spearman Correlation Analysis). Multivariate analysis showed patient's age (p=0.018), the size of lesion (p<0.001), and morphological type (p<0.001) were significantly different between low risk group and high risk group. Combined receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of significant parameters revealed an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.863 (95% CI 0.823-0.903, p<0.001).

Conclusions: The proposed morphological classification of vocal fold leukoplakia was consistent between observers and morphological types correlated with pathological grades. Patient's age, the size of lesion, and morphological type might enable risk stratification and provide treatment guidelines for vocal fold leukoplakia.

Introdução: Ainda não há um método universal estabelecido para diferenciar entre a leucoplasia benigna e maligna ou identificar as leucoplasias das pregas vocais.

Objetivo: Avaliar a confiabilidade de uma classificação morfológica e a correlação entre os tipos morfológicos e os graus histopatológicos das leucoplasias de pregas vocais.

Método: Os registros de 375 pacientes com leucoplasia da prega vocal assistidos entre 2009 e 2015 foram revisados retrospectivamente. Dois observadores dividiram a leucoplasia da prega vocal entre tipo plano e liso, elevado e liso, e rugoso, com base na aparência morfológica. A confiabilidade interobservador foi avaliada e os resultados de classificação de ambos os observadores foram comparados com os graus histopatológicos finais. As características clínicas entre os grupos de baixo risco e alto risco também foram analisadas.

Resultados: A porcentagem da concordância inter-observador da classificação morfológica foi de 78,7% (κ = 0,615, p < 0,001). Nos resultados de ambos os observadores, os tipos morfológicos correlacionaram-se significativamente com os graus histopatológicos (p1 < 0,001, p2 < 0,001, teste de Kruskal-Wallis; r1 = 0,646, p1 < 0,001, r2 = 0,539, p2 < 0,001, análise de correlação de Spearman). A análise multivariada mostrou que a idade do paciente (p = 0,018), o tamanho da lesão (p < 0,001) e o tipo morfológico (p < 0,001) foram significativamente diferentes entre o grupo de baixo risco e o de alto risco. A análise da curva ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) combinada de parâmetros significativos revelou uma área sob a curva de 0,863 (IC 95%: 0,823 ± 0,903, p < 0,001).

Conclusões: A classificação morfológica proposta para leucoplasia de prega vocal foi consistente entre observadores e os tipos morfológicos correlacionaram-se com os graus histopatológicos. A idade do paciente, o tamanho da lesão e o tipo morfológico podem permitir a estratificação de risco e fornecem diretrizes de tratamento para a leucoplasia da prega vocal.

Keywords: Displasia; Dysplasia; Leucoplasia; Leukoplakia; Morfológico; Morphological; Pathological; Patológico; Prega vocal; Vocal fold.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The pathological results of flat and smooth leukoplakia (A), elevated and smooth leukoplakia (C), and rough leukoplakia (E) showed squamous hyperplasia without dysplasia (B), squamous hyperplasia with mild-dysplasia (D), and squamous cell carcinoma (F), respectively.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis and the Areas Under the Curve (AUCs) of independent predictors for distinguishing low risk and high risk of vocal fold leukoplakia.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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