title: [The program for early diagnosis of the upper respiratory tract and digestive system neoplasms offered to alcoholics in the region of Friuli-Venice Giulia].
abstract: The present study deals with data from an on-going collaborative programme of early diagnosis for upper aero-digestive tract tumors established since 1990 by three ENT Departments of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region, Northeastern Italy. The aim of the study was firstly to evaluate the socio-economic characteristics and clinical features of alcoholics in treatment who were offered a free ENT check-up, and secondly to test the feasibility of this type of referral of high-risk patients from non-medical associations to the ENT specialist. A total of 683 patients, of which 151 (78%) were males and 151 (22%) were females, underwent ENT examination. About 25% of the patients were symptomatic, the most frequent symptom being dysphonia (50%) followed by cough (19%), while dyspnoea, dysphagia and pain were present in about 5% of the patients. Other than nearly 50% negative findings, ENT examination revealed a high percentage of inflammatory lesions (30%) of the upper aero-digestive tract. In 37 patients (6%) a precancerous lesion was found and in four cases an histologically confirmed tumor was diagnosed. Although the present study cannot be considered a complete screening, it did clearly evaluate the amount of response given by this high-risk population of alcoholics in treatment to the offer of an ENT examination and gives encouraging results concerning the feasibility of early diagnosis programmes for upper aero-digestive tract tumors which do not follow the normal routine of a sanitary referral by a general practitioner.
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Epidemiologia e Direzione Sanitaria, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Aviano.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barra
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mattotti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bertos
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barzan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000628:therapy*; D001044:Aphonia; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012142:Respiratory Tract Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking
vernacular_title: Un programma di diagnosi precoce per le neoplasie delle alte vie aerodigestive in una popolazione di alcolisti del Friuli-Venezia Giulia.