**1. Introduction**

The terms gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) refer to the anatomical position and cause of the disease. Reflux sometimes escapes into the distal esophagus, which is a physiological event, but laryngeal mucosa does not possess protective mechanisms against gastric contents, so it appears that laryngopharyngeal reflux cannot be physiological. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders in Western countries, defined as a stomach content reflux into the esophagus with pathohistological changes of the esophageal mucous membrane and a series of clinical symptoms. The manifestations and symptoms of GERD have been classified into either esophageal or extra-esophageal. Extra-esophageal manifestations include upper respiratory tract manifestations, oral cavity, pulmonary, cardiac manifestation, and chest pain. Laryngopharyngeal reflux was conceptualized as the backflow of gastric contents into the laryngopharynx and other parts of the upper aerodigestive tract, causing an inflammatory reaction of the mucous membrane of pharynx, larynx, and other associated respiratory organs.

In recent years it has been proven that gastroesophageal reflux is not the only cause of LPR. A growing number of clinical research support the opinion of LPRD being a new clinical entity, which is different from GERD in terms of pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities, and prognosis. Physicians of various professions are involved in the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures of these pathological conditions. LPR, as well as GERD, is one of the most common causes of patient visits to their family medicine physicians. For primary care physicians, those conditions represent an important medical problem and a challenge in fast diagnostics, effective treatment, and proper selection of patients who require additional multidisciplinary diagnostic procedures [1]. The development of the diseases can be benign or malignant, with a number of potential medical complications and healththreatening and life-threatening consequences, and most of its forms can greatly affect patient's quality of life.
