Cancer

Question 1

Describe risk factors for general HaN cancer. (10)

Answer 1

Smoking
Alcohol
Tobacco chewing
Poor dental hygiene
Viruses - EBV, HPV 
Sunlight/sunbeds
Occupational exposure to inhalants
Male
Older
Premalignant changes - Leukoplakia (white blotches) or erythroplakia (red blotches)

Question 2

Describe risk factors for thyroid cancer specifically. (2)

Answer 2

Iradiation

Family history

Question 3

Describe the most common type of cancer in head and neck (3)

Answer 3

Squamous cell carcinoma originating in the oral cavity, lips, nasal cavity, sinuses, pharynx and larynx.

Question 4

Describe some manifestations of head and neck cancers. (4)

Answer 4

Unexplained and painful ulceration
Unexplained horse ness of voice
Dysphagia
Otalgia in a normal ear.

Question 5

Describe treatments for the different stagings of head and neck cancers. (3)

Answer 5

Early stage - radiotherapy, microsurgery with lasers.

Later stage - surgery up to radical neck disection losing SMC, IJV, lymph nodes and the accessory nerve.

Question 6

What staging system is used to head and neck cancers? (1)

Answer 6

TNM.

Question 7

Describe the multidisciplinary team needed for treatment of head and neck cancers. (7)

Answer 7

Radiology
Pathology
Surgery
Oncology 
SALT
Dieticians
Plastics for reconstruction