Lecture 18-Head and Neck Cancers

Question 1

What is the most common type of head and neck cancer (HNC)?

Answer 1

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)

Question 2

What are the risk factors for HNC?

Answer 2

Smoking, alcohol, betal nut chewing, dental hygiene, viruses (HPV for oropharynx), premalignancies (leucoplakia or eryhtroplakia)

Question 3

What are the risk factors for thyroid cancer?

Answer 3

• irradiation exposure
• family history and inherited conditions eg FAP
• young lumps or old lumps (<20 or >70 y/o) more likely to be malignant

Question 4

Describe the presentation of cancer of the lip/oral cavity

Answer 4

Lump, pain, dysphagia, painful swallowing

Question 5

Describe, in general, the investigations used to diagnose HNC

Answer 5

• biopsy of lesion
• imaging: USS, CT, MRI
• endoscopy

Question 6

Describe the presentation of pharyngeal/laryngeal cancer

Answer 6

Voice change, dysphagia, neck lump, weight loss, unexplained otalgia, odynophagia

Question 7

Describe the presentation of thyroid cancer

Answer 7

Lump (in thyroid or neck nodal mets), dysphagia, feeling of being strangled, voice change

Question 8

What are the possible causes of neck lumps?

Answer 8

• inflammatory neck nodes (due to infection)
• congenital lesions (thyroglossal or branhcial (smooth, non-tender soft mass) cysts)
• thyroid pathology (goitre, tumour)
• primary or secondary metastatic disease
• salivary gland pathology (calculus, infection, tumour)
• sebaceous cyst (non-cancerous)
• lipoma (benign tumour of fat tissue)
• dermoid cyst
• other eg TB, HIV, lymphoma