Author commentary on Laurelle van Tilburg et al.

Laurelle van Tilburg et al. Endoscopic screening of the upper gastrointestinal tract for second primary tumors in patients with head and neck cancer in a Western country

In this prospective, single-center study, including 202 patients with primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), screening with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy detected an esophageal second primary tumor (SPT) in 5 % of the patients. Of the patients with SPTs, 90 % were diagnosed with an early stage SPT, allowing endoscopic resection with curative intent. The authors suggest that selected patients with HNSCC should routinely undergo upper gastrointestinal endoscopic screening 1 to 2 years after HNSCC diagnosis.

Publication History

Article published online:
26 October 2023