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Transnasal Esophagoscopy or TNE

An endoscope is an instrument used to examine an interior part of the body. Endoscopes may be either rigid or flexible, and they have alight at the end that illuminates the area for visibility. During transnasal esophagoscopy (TNE), a thin flexible endoscope is inserted through the nose and down the throat in order to view the vocal folds, larynx (voice box), esophagus, or other structures of the throat. Super thin transnasal endoscopes are superior in several ways, including being better tolerated by patients, and being more cost effective. In addition, because intravenous sedative medication is not required before TNE, the risk of complications is lower than with conventional endoscopy. Transnasal Esophagoscopy is used to examine patients who may have amass in the neck, throat, airway or esophagus. Patients with sleep apnea may undergo TNE to check for obstruction in the throat.

Patients suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may also benefit from TNE as it can reveal manifestations of GERD in the esophagus. For patients with GERD and asthma, challenging symptoms such as chronic cough can be better understood through TNE. The procedure can allow physicians to view the effects of GERD in the throat, effects that are far more common than previously realized, and that may increase patients’ risks for cancer of the larynx and hypopharynx.

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