ENT Tumours Flashcards
what are the causes of HNSCC?
- Cigarette smoking
- Alcohol consumption
- Vitamin A & C Deficiency
- Nitrosamines in salted fish
- HPV
- GORD
- Deprivation
- Hot drinks
what is HSNCC?
Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck
where do HSNCC arise from?
• Develop form lining of aerodigestive tract oral cavity, orophargynx, hypopharynx, larynx and trachea
how does HPV cause HSNCC?
produces proteins E6 and E7 which disrupt p53 and Rb pathways, leading to cellular immortality
what are the throat clinical features of HSNCC?
Neck pain/lump Hoarse voice >6wks Sore throat >6wks Speech change Dysphagia
what are the mouth clinical features of HSNCC?
- Mouth bleeding
- Mouth numbness
- Sore tongue
- Painless ulcers
- Patches in mouth
- Lumps (lip, mouth, gum)
what are the ear clinical features of HSNCC?
Earache/effusion
what are the referral guidelines for HSNCC?
o A suspected cancer pathway referral to an ENT specialist should be considered for people aged 45 and over with:
o persistent unexplained hoarseness or
o An unexplained lump in the neck.
what are the clinical features of HSNCC of the oral cavity and tongue?
persistent painful ulcers, white or red patches on tongue, gums or mucosa, otalgia, odynophagia, lymphadenopathy
what is the management of HSNCC of the oral cavity and tongue?
surgery/radiotherapy
what is the epidemiology factors of oropharyngeal carcinomas?
Male: female, 5:1
what are the risk factors of oropharyngeal cancer?
pipe smoking, or chewing tobacco, HPV
what type of cancer is oropharyngeal cancer?
squamous cell
what are the clinical features of oropharyngeal cancer?
older patient, smoker with sore throat, sensation of lump, referred, otalgia
how is oropharyngeal carcinomas diagnosed?
MRI
how are oropharyngeal carcinomas managed?
surgery, radiotherapy
what are the clinical features of hypopharyngeal carcinoma?
lump in throat, dysphagia, odynophagia, pain referred to ear, hoarse voice
what are the premalignant conditions to hypopharyngeal tumour?
leucoplakia, Patterson-kelly-brown syndrome
what is the management of hypopharyngeal carcinoma?
radiotherapy, surgery
what type of tumour is hypopharyngeal tumours?
squamous cell
what are the clinical features of laryngeal carciomas?
Typical Patient: older, progressive hoarseness, then stridor, difficulty or pain on swallowing +/- haemoptysis +/- ear pain (if pharynx involved)
Younger Patient: HPV +ve
where do laryngeal cancers occur?
supraglottic, glottic or subglottic
how are laryngeal cancers diagnosed?
laryngoscopy + biopsy, HPV status, MRI Staging
how are laryngeal cancers managed?
o Radical radiotherapy for small tumours
o Larger tumours – partial/total laryngectomy +/- block dissection of neck glands
what is stertor?
caused by obstruction of airway above the level of the larynx, low pitched snoring or snuffle sound
what is stridor?
due to airflow changes, narrowed or obstructed airway path, high pitched sound, inspiratory (higher in airway), expiratory, biphasic
what is wheeze?
continuous, coarse, whistling sound, polyphonic sound
what is hoarseness?
A voice change really = dysphonia” i.e. abnormal voice
what is aphonia?
A complete loss of voice
what is nasopharyngeal carcinoma?
squamous cell carcinoma
what are the causes of nasopharyngeal carcinoma?
- Combination of viral, environmental, genetics
- Epstein Barr virus
- Also volatile nitrosamines in food
what are the clinical features of nasopharyngeal carcinoma?
- Blocked or stuffy nose
- Nosebleeds
- Neck lump (cervical lymphadenopathy)
- Hearing loss (in one ear) – otalgia, unilateral serous otitis media
- Cranial nerve palsy