The role of endoscopy in evaluating patients with head and neck cancer. A multi-institutional prospective study
B. Leipzig, J. E. Zellmer and D. Klug
In a prospective multi-institutional study of 384 patients undergoing
endoscopy, an 8.9% incidence of second primary neoplasms was discovered
simultaneously in the lung (3.3%), esophagus (1.8%), and other head and
neck sites (3.6%). The endoscopy was the only source of detection of these
tumors in 58% of cases. A trend indicates that flexible fiberoptic
bronchoscopy was more effective than rigid bronchoscopy in discovering lung
tumors (7.5% vs 2.3%). Nevertheless, the chest roentgenogram remains an
important tool in the diagnosis of second primary lesions in the lung.
Panendoscopy is safe, takes little time, and can add invaluable information
concerning therapy in patients with head and neck cancers.
