BMJ 2002;325:822-827 ( 12 October )

Clinical review

    Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck
    Commentary: Head and neck carcinomas in the developing world

Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck

R J Sanderson, consultant otolaryngologist, J A D Ironside, consultant clinical oncologist. 

Edinburgh Cancer Centre, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU

Correspondence to: R Sanderson sandtol@ukgateway.net

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Public awareness of this common form of cancer needs to be increased because despite important advances in treatment, prognosis still largely depends on the stage of presentation

More than 90% of tumours in the head and neck are squamous carcinomas. Cancer of the head and neck, which can arise in several places, is often preventable, and if diagnosed early is usually curable. Unfortunately, patients often present with advanced disease that is incurable or requires aggressive treatment, which leaves them functionally disabled. We have reviewed current practice and potential future advances in the referral, diagnosis, and management of head and neck cancer.

Summary points Squamous cell cancer of the head and neck is common worldwide (4% of all cancers in the United States; 5% in the United Kingdom) The prognosis for early stage disease is good, but for patients with advanced disease it has altered little in the past 20 years Multidisciplinary teams are essential for optimum management Combinations of treatments can offer preservation of organs and function Improved reporting of morbidity and quality of life is essential Increased public awareness about the association with smoking and alcohol and the importance of early detection is needed

	Methods

We gathered information from several sources, including personal experience of treating head and neck cancer in a multidisciplinary tertiary referral centre and the Medline and Cochrane databases.

	Incidence

Squamous cell cancer of the head and neck is one of the most common cancers worldwide, with incidences of more than 30 per . . . [Full text of this article]

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