Question

What are some risk factors for head and neck cancer? What clinical manifestations may the pt. with head and neck cancer exhibit? 16 146 View as T

Answer 1

1. Alcohol and tobacco use (including smokeless tobacco, sometimes called “chewing tobacco” or “snuff”) are the two most important risk factors for head and neck cancers

Infection with cancer-causing types of human papillomavirus (HPV), especially HPV-16, is a risk factor for some types of head and neck cancers

Preserved or salted foods , Poor oral hygiene and missing teeth may be weak risk factors for cancers of the oral cavity , Occupational exposure to wood dust, exposures to asbestos and synthetic fibers . exposure to wood or nickel dust or formaldehyde , Radiation exposure , Epstein-Barr virus infection , Paan (betel quid]

2. The symptoms of head and neck cancers may include a lump or a sore that does not heal, a sore throat that does not go away, difficulty in swallowing, and a change or hoarseness in the voice

• Oral cavity: A white or red patch on the gums, the tongue, or the lining of the mouth; a swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable; and unusual bleeding or pain in the mouth.
• Pharynx: Trouble breathing or speaking; pain when swallowing; pain in the neck or the throat that does not go away; frequent headaches, pain, or ringing in the ears; or trouble hearing.
• Larynx: Pain when swallowing or ear pain.
• Paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity: Sinuses that are blocked and do not clear; chronic sinus infections that do not respond to treatment with antibiotics; bleeding through the nose; frequent headaches, swelling or other trouble with the eyes; pain in the upper teeth; or problems with dentures.
• Salivary glands: Swelling under the chin or around the jawbone, numbness or paralysis of the muscles in the face, or pain in the face, the chin, or the neck that does not go away.