The incidence and diagnosis of secondary esophageal carcinoma in the head and neck cancer patient

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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.