PANENDOSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF THE UPPER AERODIGESTIVE TRACT FOR THE DETECTION OF SECOND PRIMARY CANCERS IN HEAD ＆ NECK CANCER PATIENTS

두경부암종 환자에서 상부 호흡소화기관에 병발한 원발성 중복암의 진단적 종합내시경검사

The increasing incidence of multiple primary carcinomas occuring in the upper aerodigestive tract is well documented, with the accepted incidence being as high as 20-30%. The fiberoptic endoscopy has also enabled visualization of areas previously inaccessible without general anesthesia. A prospective panendoscopic examination of the upper aerodigestive tract was peformed on 104 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of head & neck in our hospital between 1989 and 1994. Five second primary cancers (4.8% ：2 stomach, 2 esophagus, 1 lung cancers) were detected endoscopically. These finding should reinforce the belief that head & neck cancer is a panmucosal disease of the aerodigestive tract that silent second primary cancers are not uncommon. So every effort should be done to detect second primary cancers in head & neck squamous cell carcinomas. Panendoscopy has proved valuable in achieving that.