Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2006 Feb;49(2):194-198.

Second Primary Malignancies in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

• Choi SJ
• Choi SH
• Kim SY
• Nam SY

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A clinical study of second primary malignancies in patients with cancer of the head and neck was performed.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
Among 1741 patients with head and neck cancer, 91patients were diagnosed as second primary malignancies. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records about site, chronology, and survival.
RESULTS
There was association between the sites of index and second primary malignancy. This was explained by the concept of field cancerization. Three year-survival rate was 28.6%, and second primary malignancies in the advanced stages had poor survival. However, the chronological variable was not significant.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of second primary malignancies in patients with head and neck cancer was of 5.2%. Most of them were located in the upper aerodigestive tract. Frequent and regular follow-up is important for early detection of second primary malignancies.

Keyword

Second primary cancers; Head and neck cancer; Survival rate

MeSH Terms

Follow-Up Studies
Head and Neck Neoplasms*
Head*
Humans
Medical Records
Neoplasms, Second Primary
Prevalence
Retrospective Studies
Survival Rate