Aj. Tincani et al., Diagnosis of superficial esophageal cancer and dysplasia using endoscopic screening with a 2% lugol dye solution in patients with head and neck cancer, HEAD NECK, 22(2), 2000, pp. 170-174
Citations number
23
Categorie Soggetti
Otolaryngology
Journal title
HEAD AND NECK-JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES AND SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK
Background. Head and neck cancer (HNC) has a high incidence in Brazil, with
cancer of the oral cavity being one of the five most common cancers among
Brazilians. Alcohol and tobacco consumption may contribute to synchronous o
r metachronous HNC and esophageal cancer. The early detection of superficia
l esophageal cancer and dysplasia in asymptomatic patients with HNC, after
successfully treating the primary cancer. may provide an effective cure.
Methods. A prospective study involving 60 patients with HNC was carried out
at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) to screen for superficial es
ophageal cancer and dysplasia using endoscopy and a 2% lugol dye solution f
ollowed by biopsy of the suspicious areas.
Results. Five patients (8.3%) had superficial esophageal cancer, which was
diagnosed as intraepithelial carcinoma in three of them (5.0%). In four pat
ients, the superficial esophageal cancer was synchronous, and in one it was
metachronous to HNC. Five patients (8.3%) had dysplasias in the esophageal
epithelium (three were classified as mild and two as moderate).
Conclusion. These results demonstrate the value of endoscopic screening of
the esophagus using lugol dye in patients with HNC, particularly because su
perficial esophageal cancer is extremely difficult to detect by conventiona
l methods in asymptomatic patients. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.