Radiat Oncol J.  2015 Sep;33(3):172-178. 10.3857/roj.2015.33.3.172.

Clinical outcomes of synchronous head and neck and esophageal cancer

• Park JW
• Lee SW

• KMID: 2316738
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3857/roj.2015.33.3.172

Abstract

PURPOSE
To investigate clinical outcomes of synchronous head and neck and esophageal cancer (SHNEC).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed 27 SHNEC patients treated with curative intent at a single institution. The treatment modality for individual cases was usually determined on a case by case basis.
RESULTS
The median follow-up duration for the surviving patients was 28.2 months. The most common site of head and neck cancer was hypopharyngeal carcinoma (n = 21, 77.7%). The lower esophagus was the most common location of esophageal carcinoma (n = 16, 59.3%). The 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 57.5% and 39.6%. Major pattern of failure was locoregional recurrence in the study patients. Esophageal cancer stage, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, and pretreatment weight loss were significant prognostic factors for OS in univariate analysis. Treatment-related death was observed in two patients, and one patient developed a grade 4 late treatment-related complication.
CONCLUSION
Although the survival outcome for SHNEC is poor, long-term survival might be achievable with aggressive treatment with stage I-II esophageal cancer and good performance.

Keyword

Synchronous cancer; Head and neck cancer; Esophageal cancer

MeSH Terms

Disease-Free Survival
Esophageal Neoplasms*
Esophagus
Follow-Up Studies
Head and Neck Neoplasms
Head*
Humans
Neck*
Recurrence
Retrospective Studies
Weight Loss