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. 2022 Oct 1;12(10):1628.
doi: 10.3390/jpm12101628.

Implementation of Routine Endoscopy with Narrow Band Imaging in the Evaluation of Oral and Upper Airways Lesions in Oral Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease: A Preliminary Study

Letizia Nitro  1 , Carlotta Pipolo  1 , Paolo Castellarin  2 , Andrea Sardella  2 , Antonio Mario Bulfamante  1 , Beatrice De Marco  3 , Gabriele Magliano  3 , Giovanni Grillo  3 , Giovanni Felisati  1 , Alberto Maria Saibene  1
Affiliations

Implementation of Routine Endoscopy with Narrow Band Imaging in the Evaluation of Oral and Upper Airways Lesions in Oral Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease: A Preliminary Study

Letizia Nitro et al. J Pers Med. .

Abstract

(1) Background: The aim of our study is to investigate the main oral lesion patterns in patients with oral graft-versus-host disease and to describe and validate the use of endoscopy enhanced with narrow-band imaging (NBI) as a personalized, reliable and user-friendly tool for the early detection of oral potentially diseases. (2) Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of 20 patients with chronic GVHD and with oral manifestations, who were referred to our "Interdisciplinary Center for Oropharyngeal Pathology (CIPO)" from January 2017 to July 2022. (3) Results: Data on GVHD, oral localization and NBI endoscopic evaluation are collected. A total of six mucositis, one mucosal erythematous change, ten lichenoid-like changes, eight erosive lesions, one leukoplakia, two erythroplakia and two case of blisters were observed. Two vascular abnormalities were seen with NBI, leading to one excisional biopsy. The patient was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma. (4) Conclusion: Our study is the first to highlight the relevance of the routine use of endoscopy with NBI in patients with oral chronic GVHD. We highlighted its role as a reliable, reproducible, easy-to-use and tailor-made tool in the follow-up of those patients and to allow an earlier identification of aberrant neoangiogenesis related to oral potentially malignant disorders and oral cancer.

Keywords: endoscopy; graft-versus-host disease; hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; intrapapillary capillary loops; narrow-band imaging; oral potentially malignant disorders; oral squamous cell carcinoma.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Oral mucositis with blisters.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Leucoplakia of the hard palate with erosive spots and erythematous mucosa.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Leucoplakia of the tongue.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Ulcerated erythroplasic lesion in white light imaging.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Erythroplasic lesion with peripherical vascular dark spots enhanced with narrow band imaging.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Intrapapillary capillary loop enhanced with narrow band imaging.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Lichenoid changes of the oral mucosa.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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