title: The incidence and diagnosis of secondary esophageal carcinoma in the head and neck cancer patient.
abstract: The historical development of additional primary neoplasms of the esophagus is traced. To determine the incidence and time of appearance of these esophageal malignancies, a retrospective study of 790 head and neck cancer patients was conducted. In addition, a prospective study of 268 head and neck cancer patients was undertaken to determine the optimum diagnostic approach for esophageal neoplasms. All patients in the prospective study had a pharyngoesophagogram plus esophagoscopy as part of the initial diagnostic evaluation. The false negative rate of the pharyngoesophagogram was 72.2% in patients with esophageal pathology. In patients with esophageal malignancies it was 80%. Esophagoscopy should be a part of the initial evaluation of every patient with an upper aerodigestive tract primary malignancy.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology and Human Communication, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
authors: T W
authors: TW
authors: Grossman
mesh_terms: D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000556:secondary*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies