Head and Neck Cancer Flashcards
What are the different types of head and neck cancer?
SCC is most common
Salivary gland= mucoepidermoid or adenoid cystic
Thyroid=papillary, follicular, medullary or anaplastic
What are the different sites of head and neck cancer?
Lips and oral mucosa Pharynx Larynx Nose Thyroid Salivary glands
What are the risk factors for head and neck cancer?
Brazillian or Indian ethnicity Male Alcohol Smoker HPV infection Plummer-Vinson syndrome- Fe deficient anaemia in older women Occupation-nickel refining or woodwork Age
What is the leading cause of head and neck cancer in younger adults?
HPV infection
What is the classic symptoms of head and neck cancer?
Lesions on the mouth/tongue Referred otalgia Facial palsy Dysphagia Neck lump Hoarse voice
What are the clinical features of oral cavity carcinoma?
Non healing ulcer Exophytic lesion in the mouth Local pain Referred otalgia Loose teeth Poorly fitting dentures
What are the clinical features of oropharyngeal cancer?
Obvious lesion- ulcerated
Local pain
Referred otalgia
Asymptomatic with mass in neck
What are the clinical features of laryngeal cancer?
Glottic
-early presentation of progressively husky voice
Supraglottic
- local pain
- referred otalgia
- dysphagia
- change in voice (late symptom)
What are symptoms of hypopharyngeal cancer?
Globus
Increasing dysphagia with weight loss
Hoarseness and stridor
Referred otalgia
What is leukoplakia?
White lesions in the mouth
Precancerous changes
What is erythroplakia?
Erythematous area on mucous membranes
What is Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1
Hereditary condition that is associated with tumours of endocrine glands
Type 1- common tumours seen are parathyroid, pituitary and pancreatic
What is MEN type 2
Split into 2 subcategories
A
-parathyroid, medullary thyroid or phaemochromocytoma
B
-medullary thyroid, phaemochromocytoma or Marfanoid Syndrome
What investigations need to be done in a patient presenting with suspected head or neck cancer?
Examination of tract
- oral cavity
- nasal
- neck
- ear
Bloods
-FBC, U&Es, TFTs
Panendoscopy of the upper airway
Imaging
-CT/MRI skull to base of thoracic inlet
Fine needle aspiration for cytology +/-biopsy
What is the staging system ?
TNM
Tumour- refers to size and local invasion
Node- refers to spread to lymph nodes
Metastasis- absence or presence of metastasis
