Treatment-outcome for synchronous head-and-neck and oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Abstract

Although head & neck and oesophageal carcinomas occur synchronously in up to 12%, almost no data on feasibility and outcome after radiotherapy are available. From 1989 to 2002, 24 patients were treated at Tuebingen University and Fulda hospital with a radiation based, curative approach. These were analyzed retrospectively. The median overall survival was 37 (1-69) months with a few long-term survivors with a median follow-up of 26 months for patients at risk. 7 local recurrences occurred. No major toxicity was seen. Even though the prognosis of synchronous head & neck and oesophageal carcinomas is grim, long-term survival is possible. A radiation-based approach is feasible and can be chosen for a curative treatment approach which we recommend.