Does local disease or metastatic disease cause the major morbidity in head and neck cancers?
- Local disease, which invades the vital structures of the head and neck.
- Metastases occur but are usually not as problematic.
What are the risk factors for head and neck cancer?
- Tobacco smoking and use of smokeless tobacco.
- Ethanol use potentiates tobacco risk and is a risk factor independent of tobacco.
- Nickel refining, woodworking, and exposure to textiles have all been implicated as occupational risks.
- Infections with HPV and EBV are important risk factors worldwide, with EBV infection being a particular risk factor in China.
What are the presenting signs and symptoms for malignancies in Oral cavity?
Pain, ulcers, tongue mass, and change in denture fit
What are the presenting signs and symptoms for malignancies in Oropharynx, hypopharynx, and supraglottic larynx?
Sore throat, hoarseness, dysphagia, ear pain, and adenopathy
What are the presenting signs and symptoms for malignancies in Larynx?
Hoarseness
What are the presenting signs and symptoms for malignancies in Nasopharynx?
Otitis media, cranial neuropathies, and adenopathy
What are the presenting signs and symptoms for malignancies in Paranasal sinuses?
Swelling of the cheeks, proptosis, sinusitis, loose teeth, epistaxis, and pain
What are the identifiable premalignant lesions in the upper aerodigestive tract?
Erythroplakia and leukoplakia
What is the most common histologic occurrence of head and neck cancer?
Squamous cell carcinoma
To what locations does head and neck cancer usually metastasize?
First to localized lymph nodes, then to lungs, bones, and liver
What is the diagnostic workup for head and neck cancer?
- H&P
- CBC
- chemistry panel
- chest radiograph
- thorough endoscopy of the entire head and neck region
- CT scan of the head and neck
