What is head and neck cancer?
-Cancer that arises in the head or neck region
-Head and neck cancers usually begin in the squamous cells that line the moist, mucosal surfaces inside the head and neck for example, inside the mouth, the nose and the throat.
Incidence of head and neck cancer
-The worldwide incidence of head and neck cancer exceeds half a million cases annually, ranking it as the 5th most common cancer worldwide.
-Males are affected significantly more than females (2:1 to 4:1)
-Cancers of the brain, the eye, the esophagus, and the thyroid gland, as well as those of the scalp, skin, muscles, and bones of the head and neck, are not usually classified as head and neck cancers.
Types of head and neck cancer
-Cancers of the head and neck are further categorized by the area of the head or neck in which they begin
.Oral cavity cancer
.Pharyngeal cancer
.Laryngeal cancer
.Paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity cancer
.Salivary gland cancer
-Oral cavity cancer, or oral cancer, is cancer that starts in the mouth (oral cavity)
-The oral cavity includes the following
.The lips
.The front two-thirds of the tongue
. The gums
.The lining inside the cheeks and lips
.The floor of the mouth under the tongue
. The hard palate (bony top of the mouth)
. The small area of the gum behind the
wisdom teeth
Oral cavity cancer in India
-Oral cavity cancer is a major health concern in India.
-It is the most common cancer among men and the 3rd most common cancer among women.
-Of all these patients, almost 70–80% is diagnosed with an advanced cancer, making it difficult to treat and control the disease.
-According to World Health Organization (WHO) report, the incidence of oral cancer ranges from one to 10 cases per 1, 00,000 people in most countries.
-Pharyngeal cancer is a disease in which cancer cells form in the tissues of the pharynx.
-The pharynx is a hollow tube about 5 inches long that starts behind the nose and leads to the esophagus (food pipe).
-Pharyngeal cancer is categorized by pharyngeal region
.Nasopharyngeal cancer
.Oropharyngeal cancer
.Hypopharyngeal cancer
-Pharynx has three parts:
.Nasopharynx: The upper part of the pharynx, behind the nose.
.Oropharynx: The middle part of the pharynx, including the soft palate (the back of the mouth), the base of the tongue and the tonsils.
.Hypopharynx:The lower part of the pharynx.
-Nasopharyngeal cancer
.Cancer of the nasopharynx.
.Most nasopharyngeal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas.
-Oropharyngeal cancer
.Cancer of the oropharynx
.Like other pharyngeal cancers, most oropharyngeal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas.
Sites within the oropharynx that may develop cancer are
.Base of the tongue
.Tonsillar region (the most common site for primary cancers of the oropharynx)
.Soft palate, which includes the uvula
.Pharyngeal walls
-Hypopharyngeal cancers
.Cancer of the hypopharynx
.Hypopharyngeal cancers are the least common type of pharyngeal cancer.
.Again, almost all cancers of this type are squamous cell carcinomas.
-Laryngeal cancer is a disease in which cancer cells form in the tissues of the larynx.
-Most laryngeal cancers form in squamous cells, the thin, flat cells lining the inside of the larynx.
-The larynx is a part of the throat, between the base of the tongue and the trachea.
-The larynx contains the vocal cords, which vibrate and make sound when air is directed against them. The sound echoes through the pharynx, mouth, and nose to make a person's voice.
There are 3 main parts of the larynx:
-Supraglottis: The upper part of the larynx above the vocal cords, including the epiglottis.
-Glottis: The middle part of the larynx where the vocal cords are located.
-Subglottis: The lower part of the larynx between the vocal cords and the trachea (windpipe).
Paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity cancer
.Paranasal sinus and nasal cavity cancer is a disease in which cancer cells form in the tissues of the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity.
-Paranasal sinuses
."Paranasal" means near the nose.
.The paranasal sinuses are hollow, air-filled spaces in the bones around the nose.
.The sinuses are lined with cells that make mucus, which keeps the inside of the nose from drying out during breathing.
There are several paranasal sinuses named after the bones that surround them:
.The frontal sinuses are in the lower forehead above the nose.
.The maxillary sinuses are in the cheekbones on either side of the nose.
.The ethmoid sinuses are beside the upper nose, between the eyes.
.The sphenoid sinuses are behind the nose, in the center of the skull.
-Nasal cavity
.The nose opens into the nasal cavity, which is divided into two nasal passages.
.Air moves through these passages during breathing.
.The nasal cavity lies above the bone that forms the roof of the mouth and curves down at the back to join the throat.
.The area just inside the nostrils is called the nasal vestibule. A small area of special cells in the roof of each nasal passage sends signals to the brain to give the sense of smell.
.Together the paranasal sinuses and the nasal cavity filter and warm the air, and make it moist before it goes into the lungs.
.The movement of air through the sinuses and other parts of the respiratory system help make sounds for talking.
-A rare cancer that forms in tissues of a salivary gland. Most salivary gland cancers occur in older people.
-The salivary glands make saliva and release it into the mouth. Saliva has enzymes that help digest food and antibodies that help protect against infections of the mouth and throat.
-More than half of all salivary gland tumors are benign (not cancerous) and do not spread to other tissues
There are 3 pairs of major salivary glands:
-Parotid glands: These are the largest salivary glands and are found in front of and just below each ear. Most major salivary gland tumors begin in this gland.
-Sublingual glands: These glands are found under the tongue in the floor of the mouth.
-Submandibular glands: These glands are found below the jawbone.
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