The term Head and neck cancer describes a number of various malignant tumors that develop in or around the nose, sinuses, mouth, throat and larynx.
Most head and neck cancers usually begin in the squamous cells that make up the thin layer of tissue on the surface of the structures in the head and neck. Immediately beneath this lining, is the epithelium, where some areas of the head and neck have a layer of moist tissue, called the mucosa. Carcinoma in situ is the cancer that is limited to the squamous layer of cells. and invasive squamous cell carcinoma is the cancer beyond the squamous cell layer.
There are five main types of head and neck cancer, each named according to the part of the body where they develop. They are:
- Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer.The oral cavity includes the mouth and tongue. The oropharynx includes from the tonsils to the tip of the voice box.
- Salivary Gland Cancer.The salivary gland produces saliva, the fluid that releases into the mouth to keep it moist and that contains enzymes that begin breaking down food.
- Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Cancer.The air passes to the throat through the nasal cavity and the air-filled areas that surround the nasal cavity are paranasal sinuses.
- Nasopharyngeal Cancer. Behind the nose is the upper part of the throat where air passageway called nasopharynx is localized.
- Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancer. The larynx, commonly called the voice box is a tube-shaped organ in the neck that is important for breathing, swallowing, and talking. It is located at the top of the windpipe, or trachea. The hypopharynx also called the gullet, is the lower part of the throat that surrounds the larynx.
Adenocarcinoma, is the head and neck cancer that starts in the salivary glands.It is also called as, mucoepidermoid carcinoma or adenoid cystic carcinoma.
Treatment for head and neck cancer includes surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of treatments. The treatment for an individual depends on a number of factors, including the stage of the cancer, exact location of the tumor, and the person’s age and general health.
People who are diagnosed with HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer may be treated differently than people with oropharyngeal cancers that are HPV-negative. Recent research has shown that patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal tumors have a better prognosis and may do just as well on less intense treatment. An ongoing clinical trial is investigating this question.