Description

The most common types of head and neck cancer occur in the lip, mouth, and larynx. Symptoms typically include a sore that does not heal or a change in the voice. Some individuals may experience a sore throat that does not go away. The most common types of head and neck cancer occur in the skin of the face. Unusual bleeding, facial pain, numbness or swelling, and visible lumps on the outside of the neck or oral cavity are signs of advanced disease. The majority of head and neck cancers are pathologically classified as squamous cell cancers, and the diagnosis is confirmed by tissue biopsy. The degree of surrounding tissue invasion and distant spread may be determined by medical imaging and blood tests. Not using tobacco or alcohol can reduce the risk for head and neck cancer.

A sore on the face or in the mouth that does not heal, difficulty swallowing, or a change in voice are the most common symptoms. Head and neck cancer frequently begins with benign signs and symptoms of disease, such as an enlarged lymph node on the outside of the neck, a hoarse-sounding voice, or a progressive worsening of a cough or sore throat. In those with advanced disease, there may be unusual bleeding, facial pain, numbness or swelling, and visible lumps on the outside of the neck. These signs and symptoms will last for a long time if you have head and neck cancer. A lump or sore in the throat or neck that does not heal or go away could be the problem. Swallowing may be difficult or painful. It may become difficult to speak. Other signs and symptoms include a persistent earache. A sore tongue, slurred speech, ulcers or mouth sores that do not heal, bleeding from the mouth, bad breath, discolored patches that persist in the mouth, a lump in the lip, mouth, or gums, or ulcers that do not heal. Additionally, there may be weight loss, numbness, or paralysis, of the facial muscles, and congestion in the sinuses. The inner lip, tongue, floor of the mouth, gums, and hard palate are all common locations for squamous cell cancer. Mouth cancers are strongly linked to heavy alcohol consumption and tobacco use, particularly chewing and dipping tobacco. Tumors of this district, especially the tongue, are more of the time treated with a medical procedure than are other head and neck malignant growths.

The most common type of head and neck cancer is lip and oral cavity cancer. The nasopharynx, where the Eustachian tubes and nasal cavities meet the upper part of the throat, is where nasopharyngeal cancer develops. "Poorly differentiated" nasopharyngeal carcinoma is lymphoepithelioma, which is distinct in its epidemiology, biology, clinical behavior, and treatment, and is treated as a separate disease by many experts. The majority of oropharyngeal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas that originate in the oropharynx (throat), which is the middle portion of the throat and includes the soft palate, the base of the tongue, and the tonsils. Squamous cell cancers of the tonsils are more strongly associated with an infection with the human papillomavirus than are cancers of other parts of the head and neck.

Although this advantage only applies to oropharyngeal cancers, HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer generally has better outcomes than HPV-negative disease, with a 54% higher survival rate. One of the main risk factors for head and neck cancer is smoking cigarettes. Acrylonitrile appears to indirectly cause DNA damage by increasing oxidative stress, resulting in increased levels of formamidopyrimidine and 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine in DNA. Acrylonitrile is a major carcinogenic compound found in tobacco smoke. Approximately 15–25% of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas (HNSCCs) contain genomic DNA from HPV and the association varies based on the site of the tumor, especially HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer, with highest distribution in the tonsils, where HPV DNA is found in (45–67%) of the cases, less frequently in the hypopharynx, where HPV DNA is found in (13–25%) of the Oral sex is not risk-free and is associated with a significant proportion of HPV-related head and neck cancer.

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Jackson
Journal coordinator
Journal of Neoplasm