Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 12, 2026

Modeling Oral-Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in 3D Organoids
Published on: December 23, 2022
Acid reflux and head and neck cancer risk: A nationwide registry over 13 years
Chin-Lung Kuo1, Yung-Tai Chen2, An-Suey Shiao3
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; Institute of Brain Science, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Otolaryngology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Otolaryngology, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Objective:
Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a highly prevalent disorder; however, important questions remain regarding the link between GERD and extra-esophageal cancers. This nationwide cohort study investigated the risk of developing head and neck cancers (HNCs) among patients with GERD.
Methods:
Newly diagnosed GERD patients aged ≥20 years without antecedent cancer were included. Case data were obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database covering period from 1998 to 2010. We compared the standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of cancer among GERD patients with those of the general population.
Results:
A total of 98 cancers were identified among the 39,845 GERD patients in the study, representing 128,361 person-years. The SIR for all cases of cancer was 1.59 (95% CI 1.29-1.93). GERD patients exhibited significantly higher SIRs for oropharyngeal (SIR 3.58, 95% CI 1.85-6.25) and hypopharyngeal (SIR 3.96, 95% CI 2.35-6.26) cancers. Male patients had a significantly higher risk of HNCs (SIR 1.70, 95% CI 1.36-2.10), particularly oropharyngeal (SIR 4.01, 95% CI 2.00-7.17) and hypopharyngeal (SIR 3.91, 95% CI 2.28-6.26) cancers. Following adjustment for age and co-morbidities, the hazard ratio was 9.06 (95% CI 4.70-17.44) for males compared to females.
Conclusion:
There may be a potential association between GERD and risk of HNCs, which however merits further studies to confirm the causal relationship. Our observations indicate a need for careful extra-esophageal examination of patients with acid reflux. Our findings also underline the importance of raising awareness among clinicians regarding the possibility of concurrent HNCs in GERD patients with refractory laryngo-pharyngeal symptoms.
Related Concept Videos
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease II: Clinical Features and Management
Clinical Manifestations
GERD presents itself in a multitude of ways, with symptoms varying from person to person. The hallmark symptoms are...
Barrett Esophagus-I: Introduction
This constant acid exposure transforms the esophagus's pink mucosal lining (stratified squamous epithelium) into a type of lining more...
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease I: Meaning and Pathophysiology
Esophageal Strictures-I: Introduction
Etiology
The primary cause of esophageal strictures is long-standing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), accounting for about 70 to 80% of adult cases. Chronic acid reflux can lead to injury and scarring of the esophageal lining, culminating in...
Barrett Esophagus-II: Clinical Manifestations and Management
To diagnose Barrett's esophagus, healthcare providers often recommend an endoscopy for those showing symptoms of acid reflux. The procedure...
Longitudinal Research

