Head and neck cancer overview: Difference between revisions

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==Overview==
==Overview==
The term '''head and neck cancer''' refers to a group of biologically similar cancers originating from the upper aerodigestive tract, including the [[lip]], [[oral cavity]] ([[mouth]]), [[nasal cavity]], [[paranasal sinuses]], [[pharynx]], and [[larynx]]. Most head and neck cancers are [[squamous cell carcinoma]]s, originating from the [[mucosa]]l lining ([[epithelium]]) of these regions.<ref>[http://www.cancer.gov/templates/doc.aspx?viewid=7BDB0B90-2F6E-48A0-BCEA-00B2920A8933 NCI factsheet on head and neck cancer]</ref> Head and neck cancers often spread to the [[lymph node]]s of the [[neck]], and this is often the first (and sometimes only) manifestation of the disease at the time of diagnosis. Head and neck cancer is strongly associated with certain environmental and lifestyle risk factors, including [[tobacco smoking]], [[alcohol]] consumption, and certain strains of the sexually transmitted [[human papillomavirus]]. Head and neck cancer is highly curable if detected early, most often through a combination of [[chemotherapy]] and [[radiation therapy]], although [[surgery]] may also play an important role.
The term '''head and neck cancer''' refers to a group of biologically similar cancers originating from the upper aerodigestive tract, including the [[lip]], [[oral cavity]] ([[mouth]]), [[nasal cavity]], [[paranasal sinuses]], [[pharynx]], and [[larynx]]. Most head and neck cancers are [[squamous cell carcinoma]]s, originating from the [[mucosa]]l lining ([[epithelium]]) of these regions.<ref>[http://www.cancer.gov/templates/doc.aspx?viewid=7BDB0B90-2F6E-48A0-BCEA-00B2920A8933 NCI factsheet on head and neck cancer]</ref> Head and neck cancers often spread to the [[lymph node]]s of the [[neck]], and this is often the first (and sometimes only) manifestation of the disease at the time of diagnosis. Head and neck cancer is strongly associated with certain environmental and lifestyle risk factors, including [[tobacco smoking]], [[alcohol]] consumption, and certain strains of the sexually transmitted [[human papillomavirus]]. Head and neck cancer is highly curable if detected early, most often through a combination of [[chemotherapy]] and [[radiation therapy]], although [[surgery]] may also play an important role.
==Diagnosis==
A patient usually presents to the physician complaining of one or more of the above [[symptoms]]  The patient will typically undergo a [[needle biopsy]] of this lesion, and a [[histopathologic]] information is available, a multidisciplinary discussion of the optimal treatment strategy will be undertaken between the [[radiation oncologist]], [[surgical oncology|surgical oncologist]], and [[medical oncology|medical oncologist]].
==Treatment==
Improvements in diagnosis and local management, as well as [[targeted therapy]], have led to improvements in quality of life and survival for head and neck cancer patients since 1992<ref> {{cite journal |author=Al-Sarraf M |title=Treatment of locally advanced head and neck cancer: historical and critical review |journal=Cancer Control |volume=9 |issue=5 |pages=387-99 |year= |pmid=12410178}}</ref> 
After a histologic diagnosis has been established and tumor extent determined, the selection of appropriate treatment for a specific cancer depends on a complex array of variables, including tumor site, relative morbidity of various treatment options, patient performance and nutritional status, concomitant health problems, social and logistic factors, previous primary tumors, and patient preference.  Treatment planning generally requires a multidisciplinary approach involving specialist surgeons and medical and radiation oncologists. 
Several generalizations are useful in therapeutic decision making, but variations on these themes are numerous. Surgical resection and radiation therapy are the mainstays of treatment for most head and neck cancers and remain the standard of care in most cases. For small primary cancers without regional metastases (stage I or II), wide surgical excision alone or curative radiation therapy alone is used. More extensive primary tumors, or those with regional metastases (stage III or IV), planned combinations of pre- or postoperative radiation and complete surgical excision are generally used. Survival and recurrence risk has been roughly equivalent between surgical and radiation-based approaches, with a head-to-head comparison in only one randomized study. More recently, as historical survival and control rates are recognized as less than satisfactory, there has been an emphasis on the use of various induction or concomitant chemotherapy regimens. 
Patients with head and neck cancer can be categorized into three clinical groups: those with localized disease, those with locally or regionally advanced disease, and those with recurrent and/or metastatic disease. Comorbidities (medical problems in addition to the diagnosed cancer) associated with tobacco and alcohol abuse can affect treatment outcome and the tolerability of aggressive treatment in a given patient.
Many different treatments and therapies are used in the treatment of throat cancer. The type of treatment and therapies used are largely determined by the location of the cancer in the throat area and also the extent to which the cancer has spread at time of diagnosis. Patients’ also have the right to decide whether or not they wish to consent to a particular treatment. For example, some may decide to not undergo radiation therapy which has serious side effects if it means they will be extending their lives by only a few months or so. Others may feel that the extra time is worth it and wish to pursue the treatments.


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Disease]]
[[Category:Disease]]
[[Category:Types of cancer]]
[[Category:Types of cancer]]
[[Category:Oncology]]
[[Category:Otolaryngology]]
[[Category:Otolaryngology]]
[[Category:Oral and maxillofacial surgery]]
[[Category:Oral and maxillofacial surgery]]
[[Category:Disease]]
[[Category:Up-To-Date]]
[[Category:Oncology]]
[[Category:Medicine]]

Latest revision as of 01:54, 27 November 2017


Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Maneesha Nandimandalam, M.B.B.S.[2]

Head and Neck cancer Microchapters

Patient Information

Overview

Classification

Brain tumor
Oral cancer
Nasopharyngeal cancer
Hypopharyngeal cancer
Glomus tumor
Salivary gland tumor
Laryngeal cancer
Thyroid cancer
Parathyroid cancer
Esophageal cancer

Causes

Differential diagnosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [3]

Overview

The term head and neck cancer refers to a group of biologically similar cancers originating from the upper aerodigestive tract, including the lip, oral cavity (mouth), nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, pharynx, and larynx. Most head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, originating from the mucosal lining (epithelium) of these regions.[1] Head and neck cancers often spread to the lymph nodes of the neck, and this is often the first (and sometimes only) manifestation of the disease at the time of diagnosis. Head and neck cancer is strongly associated with certain environmental and lifestyle risk factors, including tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, and certain strains of the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus. Head and neck cancer is highly curable if detected early, most often through a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, although surgery may also play an important role.

References

  1. ↑ NCI factsheet on head and neck cancer
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