ABSTRACT

Objective

Helicobacter pylori (HP) is a gram-negative, microaerophilic, spiral bacterium that resides in the stomach and duodenum. The association of HP with gastric cancer has been classified as a group 1 carcinogen. It can have similar effects in other tissues, such as the larynx, as it does in the gastric mucosa. Helicobacter pylori can be detected in the normal larynx and benign, premalignant, and malignant laryngeal lesions. We aimed to investigate whether HP was a risk factor for carcinoma and its incidence according to the laryngeal region.

Material and Methods

One hundred six patients who underwent laryngeal suspension microlaryngoscopy in Adana City Training and Research Hospital ENT clinic between 2020 and 2022 were included in the study. The patients were divided into three groups according to the pathology results. Group 1 was defined as benign lesions (laryngeal polyp, cyst, nodule, Reinke’s edema), group 2 as precancerous (dysplasia, Ca-in-situ), and group 3 as T1 glottic laryngeal carcinoma. Tissue sections were evaluated for HP with a light microscope.

Results

The rate of HP observed in the larynx tissue detected histopathologically was 2.8% in the benign group, 6.3% in the premalignant group, and 1.9% in the malignant group (p= 0.648). No significant difference was observed in the incidence of Helicobacter pylori when evaluated according to the laryngeal regions, such as anterior, middle, posterior, or along the entire cord (p= 0.404).

Conclusion

Helicobacter pylori can infect the laryngeal mucosa but is not a risk factor for laryngeal cancer. The location of the laryngeal lesion on the vocal fold has no effect on HP positivity.