Detection of metachronous esophageal squamous carcinoma in patients with head and neck cancer with use of transnasal esophagoscopy.
BACKGROUND
The use of transnasal esophagoscopy was examined for detecting metachronous esophageal squamous carcinoma in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).


METHODS
In all, 398 transnasal esophagoscopies were performed in 293 previously treated patients with HNSCC between December 2007 and January 2009.


RESULTS
Metachronous esophageal squamous carcinoma was detected in 15 (5.1%) patients. The prevalence rate was 15.9% (7/44) in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer, significantly higher than the 8.3% (2/24) with laryngeal, 7.1% (3/42) with oropharyngeal, and 1.6% (3/183) with oral cancer (p = .001). The stage distributions of esophageal squamous carcinoma were I-II in 12 (80%) and III-IV in 3 (20%) patients. Subsequently, curative strategies were performed in 13 (87%) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Transnasal esophagoscopy can be used as a routine survey technique in patients with HNSCC to detect metachronous esophageal squamous carcinoma, especially in those with hypopharyngeal cancer.
Su
Yan-Ye
YY
Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Fang
Fu-Min
FM
Chuang
Hui-Ching
HC
Luo
Sheng-Dean
SD
Chien
Chih-Yen
CY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005931:Glottis; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies