Head and Neck Cancer Flashcards
What is leukoplakia?
White patches in the mucous membrane of the oral cavity
Where might tongue pain be referred to?
Ear
Jar
What is a fistula?
A epithelial lined tract between epithelial area
What are mechanisms of local cancer spread?
Adjacent invasion
Perineural invasion
Caeloemic spread (via the peritoneal and pleural cavity)
What are metatases?
Tumour spread without direct anatomical connection
Which cancers commonly spread haematologically?
Follicular carcinoma of the thyroid
Renal Cell
Sarcomas
Most common sites that metastases spread to?
Liver
Lung
Bone
(organs with large blood supply)
What are tumours with hormonal effect
Pituitary
Neuroendocrine
Some lung
(more commonly more benign tumours that are less differentiated)
Why do cancer patients get cachexic?
TNF mediated
What are some risk factors for H&N cancers?
Previous cancer
FHx
Know genetic syndromes
Smoking
Radiation
Toxins
Alcohol
HBV
Sun exposure
Immune dysfunction/suppression
