Prevalence of Synchronous ESCN in Head and Neck Cancer: A Single-Institution Perspective

The primary objective was to determine the prevalence of synchronous esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. The secondary objective was to determine risk factors for the development of synchronous esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCN).

Cross sectional observation study.

A prospective cross sectional, observational study on consecutive 300 newly diagnosed oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients who underwent trans-nasal esophageal endoscopy with white light imaging and narrow band imaging.

Among 300 patients, index HNSCCs were located in the oral cavity (n = 154, 51.3%), oropharynx (n = 63, 21%), larynx (n = 53, 17.7%), and hypopharynx (n = 30, 10%). The prevalence of synchronous ESCN was 2.7% (n = 8), including four low-grade, two high-grade dysplasia, and two squamous cell carcinomas. On logistic regression analysis, moderate to heavy alcohol consumption (OR 8.7, P = .01) and primary HNSCC involving supraglottis [(OR 12.5, P = .02) were risk factors for synchronous ESCN. The association of pyriform sinus carcinoma and synchronous ESCN was of borderline significance (P = .054, OR 10.92).

The prevalence of synchronous ESCN in HNSCC was 2.7%. Routine trans-nasal esophagoscopy should be performed in all newly diagnosed patients with carcinoma of the supraglottis and pyriform sinus, and those with consumption of moderate to heavy alcohol for the screening of synchronous ESCN.

2b Laryngoscope, 131:E807-E814, 2021.