Clinical Analysis of Esophageal Cancer Associated with Other Primary Malignancies

Satoru Matono, Susumu Sueyoshi, Toshiaki Tanaka, Hiroko Sasahara, Yuichi Tanaka, Naoki Mori, Mie Lee, Hideaki Yamana, Hiromasa Fujita and Kazuo Shirouzu

Department of Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine

Purpose: The incidence of primary esophageal cancer complicated by carcinoma in other organs has increased in Japan, particularly that of esophageal cancer associated with head and neck cancer and gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: We analysis 241 cases (23%) of synchronous or metachronous other primary malignancies of 1,050 of esophageal cancer treated at the Department of Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, from 1982 to 2001. Results: The incidence of combined cancers increased 12%, 19%, 26%, and 31% at 5-year intervals. The site of combined malignancies was the head and neck in 40% and the stomach in 29%. The incidence ratio of combined head and neck cancer from 1982 to 1991 was 33% and that from 1992 to 2001 was 42%. The incidence of combined gastric cancer (29%) remained unchanged. Death related to other primary malignancies occurred in 5.5% of all patients. Death not related to esophageal cancer was due to malignancies in the head and neck (40%), lung (17%), liver (16%), stomach (9%), and other organs (19%). Although the incidence of multiple primary cancer has increased, the incidence of death related to other primary malignancies decreased each 5 years. This may be due to measures taken to find other primary malignancies in patients with esophageal cancer. Conclusions: It is important to follow up patients primarily treated for esophageal cancer, focusing on synchronous or metechronous malignancies and recurrence.

Key words
esophageal cancer, multiple primary malignancy, head and neck cancer, gastric cancer, death related to other primary malignancy

Reprint requests
Satoru Matono Department of Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine
67 Asahimachi, Kurume-shi, Fukuoka, 830-0011 JAPAN

Accepted
December 19, 2003

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