Role of routine panendoscopy in cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract

Patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the aerodigestive tract routinely undergo panendoscopy to detect possible synchronous second primary tumors. The aim of our study was to assess the incidence of synchronous and metachronous second primary tumors and to refine the role of panendoscopy. The charts of 358 patients evaluated by means of panendoscopy during work-up of a first primary squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract were reviewed. The incidence of a second primary tumor was 16.2%, with 6.4% being synchronous and 9.8% being metachronous. In only 3.1% of all patients, a synchronous tumor was clinically silent and only revealed by means of the panendoscopy. The synchronous tumors were mainly in the oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx (61%), whereas the metachronous tumors were most likely in the lung (57%). Despite the low incidence of synchronous second primary tumors, we still recommend panendoscopy for assessment of the primary tumor and as a training field for residents.