[Cancer prevention and early detection in the upper aero-digestive tract. Results and follow-up from 2 Erlangen field studies].

In view of the increase of malignant tumors of the upper aerodigestive tract-caused mainly by the increasing tobacco and alcohol consumption-as well as the frequent delay in attaining a correct diagnosis with the often unavoidable result of mutilation of the patient, early invalidism and premature death, the search for new ways of early cancer detection and preventive measures becomes understandable. The analysis of the results of two pilot studies in Erlangen should clarify the question as to whether or not the preventive mouth, throat, and larynx examination of persons endangered by the consumption of tobacco and/or alcohol is practical and reasonable as well as medically efficient and economically justifiable.