Head and Neck Cancers

Question 1

List the most common risk factors associated with head and neck cancers (HNC) and thyroid cancers

Answer 1

• Heavy alcohol and tobacco use
• Incidence increases with age
• Men more common
• Chewing of betel quid
• Dental hygiene
• Virus - HPV for oropharynx
• Family history and radiation exposure for thyroid cancer

Question 2

State the most common type of cancer in the head and neck

Answer 2

• Squamous cell carcinoma

- Lip/oral cavity, pharynx and larynx cancers are all squamous cell carcinomas

Question 3

Describe the symptoms of head and neck cancer

Answer 3

• Asymptomatic neck lumps
  
  • Secondary to an enlarged thyroid gland or cervical lymph node metastasis
• Unexplained painful and/or mucosal ulceration or lesion within the oral cavity
• Unexplained hoarseness of voice
• Dysphagia or odynophagia (painful swallowing)
• Otalgia (hearing loss)

Question 4

Outline the investigations for head and neck cancers

Answer 4

• Biopsy of the lesion
• Imaging - CT or MRI
• Endoscopic investigation for cancers involving nasal cavity, pharynx and larynx
• TNM staging to determine severity of cancer
• USS to investigate thyroid lumps