Multiple Primary Cancers of the Head and Neck.

Multiple primary cancers of the head and neck cancers are not rare. From 1983 to 1993, we have experienced 29 cases of multiple primary cancers in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at the Gifu University School of Medicine. The cancers involved the maxillary region in 1 case (1.2%), nasal cavity in 1 case (5.9%), oral cavity in 4 cases (5.5%), epipharynx in 1 case (2.5%), mesopharynx in 1 case (4.2%), hypopharynx in 4 cases (6.9%), larynx in 15 cases (7.6%) and other regions in 2 cases (5.9%). Males accounted for the majority of the cases (26 of 29). The proportion of patients aged 50 to 70 years was high, and the average age was 63.0. Histologically, combinations with squamous cell carcinomas were the most common type (17 of 19). Eight cases were patients diagnosed with a second cancer upon entering our hospital. In 7 cases, the second cancer was not diagnosed until 5-10 years after the first cancer was diagnosed. These observations suggest that we must follow patients for long periods. Also, to avoid overlooking concealed cancer in the multicentric zone, upper gastro intestinal endoscopy, and chest X-ray should be used to screen patients with head and neck cancers.