Value of panendoscopy in determination of second primary cancer. A study of 451 cases of head and neck cancer.

A series of 451 consecutive patient records were reviewed. Of these, 43 had diagnoses of epidermoid carcinoma of the head and neck. Triple endoscopy, by flexible fiberoptic methods, was performed on all these patients and was critical in the determination of second primary carcinoma in eight patients. As panendoscopy shows no mortality and a low morbidity rate, it should be used in diagnosis of second primary tumors, despite a probable low percentage of second primary discovery; long-term patient survival demands use of all available resources in such diagnoses.