Abstract
I report on the present status of the scientific and clinical significance of tracheo-broncho-esophagology viewed from the standpoint of a member of the Oto-Rhino-Laryngolocial Society of Japan and the Japan Society of Head and Neck Cancer in terms of the following characteristics. (1) The number of diseases and their associated entities covered in the classification codes of tracheo-broncho-esophagology. (2) The number of diseases which appear in the guidelines for the National Board Examination for medical doctors. (3) The incidence of malignant tumors in the tracheo-broncho-esophageal regions listed in the TNM classification of head and neck cancers in Japan. (4) The number of papers concerning tracheo-broncho-esophagology which were presented at the annual convention of the Japan Society of Head and Neck Cancer in the past 16 years.
According to this research, I have confirmed that among a wide variety of diseases observed in the field of oto-rhino-laryngology and head and neck surgery, the diseases associated with tracheo-broncho-esophagology are extremely limited. I believe that it is time for us to reevaluate the future planning of this society from the viewpoint of the entire framework of medical science and medical practice.
