Rôle de la panendoscopie dans la recherche de cancers synchrones et métachrones de la sphère ORL.

Head and neck cancer result from excessive tobacco and alcohol consumption. The survival has not improved in the last decades despite better loco-regional control, mainly because of secondary cancers. Head and neck cancer is associated to a high rate of synchronous esophageal and lung tumors and an annual 4% rate of new metachronous malignancies. The role of panendoscopy is evolving: a flexible esophagoscopy with Lugol's iodine staining should be performed and a chest CT-scan should replace bronchoscopy. During follow-up, metachronous malignancy should be searched for in the head and neck region; investigation beyond the head and neck is questionable since prognosis is poor