Answer:
Effective agents include 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) infusions with cisplatin or carboplatin, taxanes, methotrexate, bleomycin, and mitomycin C. Response rates for these agents vary from 25% to 80%, depending on the agent, schedule, tumor type, previous treatment, and performance status. Combination chemotherapy regimens usually show higher initial response rates but have yet to show an increase in [...]

Answer:
Early-stage head and neck cancers are treated primarily with surgery, usually involving radical neck node dissection, sometimes accompanied by postoperative radiotherapy. Radiotherapy is also used for recurrences that are not amenable to surgery. Depending on tumor location and stage, some head and neck cancers are treated with multimodality therapy, using chemotherapy in combination with radiotherapy, [...]

Answer:
The most common sites of metastases are local lymphatics, followed by lung metastases. Bone metastases occur in about 15% of the patients. Brain metastases are rare and are seen mainly in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer. It is also important to remember that second primaries in the aerodigestive tract are not uncommon. Depending on tobacco and [...]

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Initial staging of head and neck cancer includes a thorough triple endoscopy of upper and lower airway and upper aerodigestive tract, with biopsy of any suspicious lesions. Measurement and biopsy, if indicated, of any cervical or supraclavicular nodes should be performed. A CT scan of the area helps to determine the extent of disease. CT [...]

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Other factors include poor dental hygiene and viral and occupational exposures. The Epstein-Barr and Herpes simplex type I viruses have been implicated in up to 15% of cases. Woodworkers have an increased incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer. Syphilitic glossitis predisposes to tongue cancer, and nickel compounds to nasal sinus cancer.
Reference: Holland JF, Frei E, et al [...]

Answer:
Tobacco is the most significant contributing factor to the development of head and neck cancers. Nine of ten patients with cancer in this area are smokers. Snuff dipping and tobacco chewing are important causes of oral cancer. Smokers have an increased mortality related to head and neck cancer once it has been diagnosed, showing a [...]

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PRESENTING SYMPTOMS OF HEAD AND
NECK CANCER

Site

Symptoms

Oral cavity: lips, buccal mucosa, alveolar ridge,
retromolar trigone, floor of mouth, hard palate,
anterior two thirds of tongue
Mass, ulcer, leukoplakia, erythroplasia bleeding, pain,
loose teeth, earache, trismus, halitosis

Larynx: supraglottic (false cords, arytenoid),
glottic (true vocal cords), subglottic
Hoarseness, bleeding, sore throat, thyroid cartilage
pain

Pharynx: nasopharynx, oropharynx, soft palate,
uvula, tonsil, base of tongue, hypopharynx, pyriform
sinus
Sore throat, [...]