Is routine triple endoscopy for head and neck carcinoma patients necessary in light of a negative chest computed tomography scan?

Abstract

The role of bronchoscopy and esophagoscopy in the presence of a normal thoracic CT scan has been questioned because of the relatively low incidence of a second esophageal and/or lung primary tumor. Nonetheless, based on the same incidence criterion, it appears reasonable to schedule a routine esophagoscopy for those patients with a squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx.