Multiple primary cancers in Hong Kong Chinese patients with squamous cell cancer of the head or neck

Abstract

Background. The risk of multiple primary tumors in the head and neck area is higher than that in other areas of the body.Methods. A total of 573 patients with squarnous cell carcinoma of the head or neck were studied prospectively during a 4.5-year period to determine the incidence of associated synchronous and metachronous second primary carcinoma.Results. Multiple primary carcinoma was found in 2.4% of these patients (69% with synchronous primary tumors). Sixty-three percent of all second primary tumors occurred in the esophagus.Conclusions. This report emphasizes the importance of esophagoscopy in the initial assessment of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head or neck. Cancer 1992: 70:815-820.

Clinical Factors Related to Suspected Second Primary Lung Cancer Development in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

“…Choy et al (24) reported that approximately 63% of second primary tumors for HNC patients in Hong Kong occurred in the esophagus. However, at our hospital, only 3 cases were esophageal cancers.…”

“…Because most esophageal cancers are detected at an advanced stage, treatment can be very difficult. Therefore, clinicians should consider performing routine endoscopic examination for patients with HNC (24).…”

The incidence and risk of developing a second primary esophageal cancer in patients with oral and pharyngeal carcinoma: a population-based study in Taiwan over a 25 year period

“…An excess of second primary esophageal cancer following first primary cancers of the oral and pharyngeal carcinoma was confirmed. To date, there have been controversial opinions regarding routine panendoscopy performed for every patient at the time of initial work-up or in the follow-up [15-19]. Cost-effectiveness is the greatest concern.…”

Synchronous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Tongue and Papillary Carcinoma of Thyroid - A Rare Case Report

“…Vassiloplou-Sellin and Weber found the incidence of incidental thyroid metastasis to cervical nodes was 0.3% [4]Warren and Gates have proposed some criteria for the definition of the second primary cancer: tumors have to be malignant and this have to be histologically confirmed, tumors must be separated from normal tissue, non-neoplastic and it must be eliminated the possibility that the second primary tumor to be the metastasis of the index tumor. [5][6][7] In 1953, Field cancerization was first described as histologically altered epithelium surrounding tumor samples from upper aerodigestive tract. [8] Although field cancerization is very common in head and neck region, two synchronous primary cancers in anatomically distinct organs involving thyroid and tongue is a rare phenomenon.…”