The usefulness of the NBI – narrow band imaging for the larynx assessment

Narrow band imaging (NBI) by enhancing the contrast between the mucosal epithelium and submucosal vessels facilitates diagnosis of precancerous and cancerous lesions, as well as hypertrophic lesions such as laryngeal papillomatosis. Narrow band imaging (NBI) is an optical technique based on the modification of white light by the use of special optical filters. Every change in the microvascular architecture of the mucosa is classified according to Ni’s classification (2011). The use of NBI improves sensitivity and specificity of assessment of laryngeal lesions and allows more precise assessment of the status of surgical margins of early-stage and locally-advanced laryngeal cancers managed in endoscopic laser cordectomy.