AUTHOR=Yang Chih-Wei , Chu Yueng-Hsiang , Chen Hsin-Chien , Huang Wei-Chen , Chen Peng-Jen , Chang Wei-Kuo 

TITLE=Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Performed by Gastroenterologists: Opportunistic Screening Strategy for Newly Diagnosed Head and Neck Cancers

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2022.793318

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2022.793318

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Aim</title><p>Approximately 66% of head and neck cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. This prospective study aimed to detect newly diagnosed head and neck cancers using regular upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy with oral-pharynx-larynx examination.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>A total of 2,849 patients underwent UGI endoscopy with an additional oral-pharynx-larynx examination. Patients aged &lt; 20 years, those who were pregnant, had a history of head and neck cancers, were undergoing emergency endoscopy, and had a poor laryngopharyngeal view were excluded. The symptoms, incidence, location, pathology, and stage of malignant neoplasms were investigated.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>A total of 2,720 patients were enrolled. Endoscopically observable 23 abnormal findings (0.85%) included 18 (0.66%) benign lesions and 5 (0.18%) newly diagnosed malignant neoplasms. Notably, 4 (80%) of 5 patients with malignant neoplasms were diagnosed at an early stage (Stage 0, I, and II).</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions</title><p>UGI endoscopy with oral-pharynx-larynx examination can achieve opportunistic head neck cancer screening and is recommended for every patient in endoscopy units.</p></sec>