Hats and Scarves 1 Flashcards
What are the Diagnosis investigation tools?
FNABX (Fine-needle aspiration biopsy) Core biopsy Incisional biopsy Excisional Biopsy Histology
What are the types of treatment options for Head and neck cancer?
Surgery
Radiation therapy (preserve structure and function)
Surgery + post-op RT +/- chemotherapy
Chemo-radiation +/- surgery for residual disease
What are the indications for post-op RT?
Locally advanced disease Close/positive margins ≥ 3 nodes involved Extra-capsular spread Lymph-vascular or peri-neural spread
What are the indications for post-op CT/RT?
Positive margins
Extracapsular spread
What are the different RT doses for the different stages?
T1-2 disease: 60-66Gy/30-33# T3/4 disease: 70Gy/35# N0 neck 50Gy/30# N1 neck 60Gy/ 30# Post-op neck 60Gy/30# Post-op neck ECS (extracapsular spread), close/ +ve margins 66Gy/33#
What things do we check during follow-up?
Detect recurrence (and allow salvage therapy)
Side-effects of therapy
Speech therapy
Rehabilitation
What are the different histology types of head and neck cancer?
SCC Adeno-carcinoma Adenoid cystic Muco-epidermoid Other (plasmacytoma, lymphoma, melanoma)
Acute side effects of Head & neck RT?
lethargy nausea and vomiting skin changes mucousitis alteration in taste dysphagia odynophagia Alteration in saliva consistency
Late side effects of Head & Neck RT?
xerostomia radiation caries (tooth decay that results from radiation-induced dry mouth (xerostomia) second malignancy mucosal fragility alopecia loss of sweating trismus atrophy of SC tissues Endocrine abnormalities osteoradionecrosis
What is the monitoring of Head & neck cancer?
Daily review by RT’s, nurses
Weekly review by medical staff
Allied health review (dietician, speech pathology, social work, occupational therapy, physiotherapy)
What are the main chemotherapy agents used for chemo radiation?
cisplatin
5 fluorouracil
What are the aetiology factors of H&N cancer?
male >female
smoking
alcohol (synergistic)
marijuana
What is the principle aim of management of primary site?
optimize tumour control
preserve structure and function
How is oral cavity cancer treated and why?
surgery is mainstay of treatment:
to preserve saliva function
Patients may have more than one tumour in their life so avoid RT if possible
Aim to cure, but optimise speech and eating
How do larynx patients present?
hoarse/ husky voice local pain/ otalgia/ odynophagia mass in neck airway compromise aspiration weight loss
What are the treatment options for early glottic cancer?
radiation therapy
surgery (conservative)
laser (under investigation)
- characterised by low incidence of nodes
What is the dose for radiation therapy of Early glottic cancer and T3 glottic cancer?
T1: 63Gy/ 28#
T2: 66Gy/ 33#
T3: 66-70Gy/33-35#
What is the field arrangement used for Early Glottic Cancer?
opposed laterals (may require obliques for short neck) require anterior overshoot, treating the glottis with a margin
What is the treatment for T3 glottic cancer?
surgery (because local control is better with surgery)
However, selected patients may be offered RT
Why would T3 glottic cancer patients benefit from radiation therapy over surgery and what patients can it be offered to?
Laryngectomy: may compromise voice box function
Good airway
compliant with follow-up
easy to examine
cords fixed because of bulk of tumour
understand they have a higher risk of recurrence
understand that laryngectomy may be recommended in suspected recurrence and may not be confirmed histologically