Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinomas are frequently associated with head and neck cancers. The poor prognosis of each cancer, and their proximity, often limit the treatment options. This study was conducted to determine the characteristics and long-term outcome of such dual cancers.

Patients and methods: We included 75 patients with esophageal carcinoma, of whom 25 had a synchronous head and neck malignancy. Curative treatment was possible in every case. The patients were divided into “solitary cancer” and “synchronous cancer” groups.

Results: The gender distribution, tumor location, and histological findings were similar in the two groups. Patients in the synchronous cancer group were younger than those in the solitary group (P <0.0042). The operative mortality and pulmonary morbidity rates were not significantly different in the two groups. The rate of cervical anastomotic leaks was higher in the synchronous group (P <0.05). The mean follow-up was 83 ± 50 months. Five-year survival rates were not significantly different in the two groups (14.3% ± 5.7% in the solitary group and 17.5% ± 7.9% in the synchronous group).

Conclusions: With aggressive treatment, the survival of patients with synchronous esophageal and head and neck cancers was similar to that of patients with isolated esophageal cancer.