Head And Neck Cancers Flashcards
Head and neck cancers are typically what in origin?
Squamous cell in origin
Nasopharyngeal cancer is more commonly seen where in the world, 2 places?
Mediterranean and Far East.
What are the two most common risk factors for head and neck cancers?
Alcohol and smoking
What is a big time risk factor for oral cancers?
Smokeless tobacco
What are two other potential carcinogens for head and neck cancer?
Marijuana and occupational exposures.
What infection is frequently associated with nasopharyngeal cancer?
EBV
Besides EBV, what are two other associations with nasopharyngeal cancer?
Eating salted fish and in door pollution
What etiology are we thinking with oropharynx cancer?
HPV 16
What age of patient population are we dealing with in HPV related oropharyngeal cancer?
Younger patient population
Most tobacco related head and neck cancers occur in what age of patients? Which gender is more likely to get head and neck cancers?
60s
Male
What is an area of clinical presentation with nasopharynx cancers?
Obstruction of the ear canal, so ear pain
What is an early symptom of laryngeal carcinoma?
Hoarseness
What are two symptoms of advanced head and neck cancers he mentioned?
Weight loss and trismus
What tumor classification of head and neck represents invasion of an adjacent structure?
T4
How do we classify head and neck cancers for the intent of treatment?
Local or regionally advanced disease
How are we going to treat local cancers?
Surgery or radiation by curative intent
What is the preferred therapy for laryngeal cancer?
Radiation
What is the preferred therapy for oral cavity?
Surgery
What do we mean when we say regionally advanced cancer?
We have a primary tumor and lymph node involvement
What is the most common way to treat regionally advanced cancer?
Combo of chemo and radiation
What is a approach we need to think about with regionally advanced and involving surgery?
We might be able to shrink the tumor down with chemo and radiation and then it be small enough to remove with surgery.
What can lower the incidence of head and neck cancers?
Fruits and vegetables
What has been shown to be protective against head and neck cancers?
Carotenoids and retinoids
What does the term field cancerization mean?
Because of the structure and anatomy of the upper airways, carcinogens are essentially sprayed everywhere so lots of tissue can be exposed.
What are two options for laryngectomized patients?
Electrolarynx and talking tracheostomy (synthetic vocal cords)
