High incidence of synchronous cancer of the oral cavity and the upper gastrointestinal tract

A high incidence of synchronous esophageal or gastric carcinoma in preopera tive patients with carcinoma of the oral cavity was reported. Esophageal ca rcinoma was found in seven out of 56 patients (12.5%) and gastric cancer in five patients (8.9%) by videoendoscopy aided with lugol staining in the es ophagus and indigocarmine solution in the stomach, although all patients we re completely asymptomatic for these lesions. All patients were male, regul ar drinkers and heavy smokers. The depth of invasion of such tumors was lim ited to either mucosa or submucosa. Those esophageal and gastric lesions be side the primary oral cancers were positive for p53 protein by immunohistoc hemistry. Careful preoperative evaluation of not only the esophagus but als o the stomach should be a routine procedure in patients with carcinoma of t he oral cavity. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.