SCREENING FOR HEAD AND NECK TUMOURS IN PATIENTS WITH OESOPHAGEAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA AND VICE VERSA: A NATIONWIDE SURVEY AMONG MEDICAL SPECIALISTS

Aims In retrospective studies, minimally 5% of oesophageal (ESCC) and 11% of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients in Western countries developed a second primary tumour (SPT). This study aimed to assess the knowledge and opinions regarding screening for head and neck SPTs (HNSPTs) in ESCC patients and oesophageal SPTs (ESPTs) in HNSCC patients in the Netherlands.

Methods A nationwide survey among gastroenterologists and head and neck (HN) surgeons was conducted between December 2020 and March 2021. The survey focused on the knowledge of medical specialists of the prevalence and opinions towards implementing screening for HNSPTs in ESCC patients and vice versa.

Results 128 gastroenterologists (16.0%) and 31 HN surgeons (50.0%) completed the survey. The expected median prevalence of HNSPTs in ESCC was 7.0% (IQR 5.0-15.0) among gastroenterologists and 5.0% (IQR 3.0-8.0) among HN surgeons. For ESPTs in HNSCC, the expected median prevalence was 9.5% (IQR 5.0-12.0) among gastroenterologists and 4.0% (IQR 2.0-5.0) among HN surgeons. Screening for HNSPTs and ESPTs was considered promising by 35.2% and 39.6%, respectively, which increased to 54.7% of the specialists after providing SPT incidence data. 41.3% of HN surgeons felt equally capable as gastroenterologists to perform oesophageal screening.

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Conclusions This Dutch nationwide survey revealed a lack of knowledge and different perspectives regarding screening to detect SPTs in ESCC and HNSCC patients among specialists. Adequate education seems essential to increase awareness among specialists and improve detection of SPTs, independent of the need for implementation of screening for SPTs in ESCC and HNSCC patients.

Publication History

Article published online:
14 April 2022