Nasoendoscopy and Laryngoscopy | Head and Neck Cancer Australia

Nasoendoscopy

A nasoendoscopy helps your doctor to see inside your nose and throat using a thin, bendy tube with a camera and light on the end (an endoscope). The tube is quite narrow, less than the width of your little finger. The nasoendoscopy is usually done in your doctor's office.

You may be given a spray to numb the area at the back of your throat. Then, the nasoendoscope will be gently passed through your nose and down your throat. This gives your doctor a close-up view of your throat and voice box so they can look for any signs of cancer.

The test isn't painful but you may feel uncomfortable. It will only take a few minutes, often much less.

After the test, your throat might still feel numb. You should wait until the numbness has gone before you eat or drink anything.

Laryngoscopy

A laryngoscopy is a test that lets your doctor look at your throat and voice box. This is usually only needed for patients where biopsies have to be taken from the throat or voice box or the area needs to be inspected more closely to look for cancer. It is done in hospital with you asleep under a general anaesthetic. You will stay in hospital for the day and then go home. It does not usually require you to stay in hospital overnight.

During the test, the laryngoscope is moved through your mouth to the back of your throat. Sometimes a tiny camera or microscope is used to give a close-up view of your throat and voice box. Its normal to have a sore throat for a few days after the test.

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