Treatment for synchronous and metachronous carcinomas of the head and neck and esophagus.

In the past 27 years, 75 patients were found to have separate primary carcinomas of the head and neck and the esophagus. Head and neck tumor was discovered first in 41 patients, synchronously with esophageal tumors in 17 patients, and esophageal tumors were recognized first in 17 patients. Reconstruction by graft after resection of head and neck cancer was necessary in 18 patients and esophagectomy was performed in 62 patients. In eight patients, pharyngeal and esophageal reconstruction was necessary after resection of synchronous and metachronous pharyngeal and esophageal carcinoma. The combined procedure with free tissue transfer was useful for surgical treatment for synchronous or metachronous carcinomas of the head and neck and the esophagus.