Background: We performed a population-based study to determine the incidence and patterns of second malignant neoplasia (SMN) in early glottic carcinoma.
Methods: All patients diagnosed with Tis-T1 glottic carcinoma in the southwest of the Netherlands between 1982 and 1993 (359) were included. Sources of the data were patient charts and the regional cancer registry.
Results: SMN incidence was 27.7% (median follow-up, 89 months). Observed-to-expected ratios were increased for lung, bladder, urinary tract, pancreatic, colorectal, and head and neck cancers. The incidence of head and neck and esophageal cancer was surprisingly low.
Conclusions: Patients with early glottic carcinoma are at a reliably increased risk of the development of tumors not only in the areas of the upper aerodigestive tract, but also in the bladder, pancreas, and colorectum. The low incidence of head and neck and esophageal tumors does not appear to support routine panendoscopy in this patient population.