head & neck cancer

head & neck cancer

Oncology A CA of head & neck–brain, ocular, salivary gland, skin, thyroid gland, and nonepithelial neoplasms–eg, lymphomas and sarcomas; in practice, the term refers to SCC of H&N mucosae–oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx, or one that excludes CA of skin, CNS, eye, thyroid, lymph nodes Statistics ±43K new cases–21K oral, 12,500 laryngeal, 9K pharyngeal/yr in the US, 1992 with 11,600 deaths, most common in ♂ > age 50; worldwide ± 500,000 new cases/yr Etiology Tobacco–smoked, smokeless, alcohol, woodworking, textile fiber exposure, nickel refining; dietary factors–eg, carotenoids, ↑ fruit and vegetable consumption may be protective; nasopharyngeal CA is associated with EBV infection, especially in southern Asia Clinical Signs and Sx are site-specific–eg, in oral cavity leukoplakia, erythroplakia; elsewhere, nasal obstruction, epistaxis, otalgia, serous otitis media, unilateral sore throat, cranial neuropathy Management–larynx, hypopharynx Stage III, IV, total laryngectomy, or induction chemotherapy–cisplatin, 5-FU, followed by RT, the latter of which allows voice preservation in ±40% of Pts Oropharynx Platinum-based chemotherapy + RT Prognosis Metastatic or recurrent disease is usually incurable

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Patient discussion about head & neck cancer

Q. what is the most accurate pathological test to identify the primary source of a cystic mass in the neck? the mass was removed. Pathologist was unable to identify the source and diagnosed the mass as a branchilogic carcinmoa (which is extremely rare, if exists at all). Therefore, I am looking for the most updated test and examinations that can be applied to blocks of the mass and determine their origin (primary source)

A. Pathologic examinaions under a microscope are the most accurate ones there are, and sometimes even they don't help to identify the cell types. I do not have any other ideas on other tests you can do, and I believe you should follow the treatment your doctors will advise you based on this diagnosis they have made.

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