Clinical evaluation of esophageal cancer complicated with head and neck cancer

: We prospectively investigated endoscopic findings of the upper digestive tract in patients with head and neck (H & N) cancer, from 1992 to 2001. Of 687 patients with H & N cancer, esophageal cancers were found to affect 74 patients (10.8%). The 74 patients consisted of 49 (66.2%) with the superficial type and 25 (33.8%) with the advanced type. Other additional cancers were detected in 32 cases (4.7%), including 21 gastric cancers. The incidence was highest in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer (32.4%), whereas the incidences in those with oral floor cancer and mesopharyngeal cancer were 14.3% and 13.1%, respectively. The incidence of stage I cancers was lower than that of stage II, III, or IV cancers. Therapy for superficial esophageal cancers consisted of trisection for endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), surgery, and no treatment. Surgery, radiation therapy, or no treatment was selected in advanced type. For double cancers of H & N and esophagus, treatment should be selected in consideration of the prognosis of the disease. These findings suggest that endoscopy with the Lugol-spraying method should be performed in H & N cancers for early detection of esophageal cancers.