An assessment of the value of triple endoscopy in the evaluation of head and neck cancer patients

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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of triple endoscopy in the routine diagnostic evaluation of head and neck cancer patients to (1) ascertain the accuracy and safety of this approach in identifying multiple neoplasms and (2) determine if such an approach is justifiable rather than relying on radiographic examinations coupled with the routine head and neck exam including indirect laryngoscopy. in this series, The incidence of second malignancies was found to be 11.3%, consistent with other reports in the medical literature. There were no complications noted as a result of triple endoscopy. There were no instances where the second malignancy was not diagnosed prior to triple endoscopy with either the physical exam or routine roentgenograms. There were no incidences where the treatment program of the primary tumor was altered by the information obtained at triple endoscopy. The results of this single institutional study suggest that triple endoscopy need not be a routine component of the diagnostic evaluation of every patient with head and neck cancer. However, every patient should probably have a thorough physical examination coupled with chest and esophageal roentgenograms to search for a simultaneous secondary neoplasm.