ENT

Head and Neck Cancer

Head and neck cancer is usually a squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract; persistent hoarseness, oral ulceration, dysphagia, unilateral otalgia or an unexplained neck lump needs prompt specialist assessment, with urgent escalation for airway compromise or major bleeding.

Definition

Head and neck cancer is a group of malignancies arising in the tissues of the head and neck. This chapter focuses on mucosal cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract in adults and young people aged 16 or over, most of which are squamous cell carcinomas; thyroid, salivary, skin, lymphoma and other cancers need separate pathways.

First principles

Think mucosal squamous cell carcinoma, but define the subsite

The upper aerodigestive tract includes the oral cavity, oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, larynx and nasal sinuses. Most cancers in this group are squamous cell carcinomas, but salivary, thyroid, skin, lymphoma and other tumours follow different pathways and should not be collapsed into one treatment algorithm.

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