Head and neck cancers in India

Abstract

Head and neck cancers constitute a third of the cancer burden in India. These cancers have unique patient characteristics, presentation, and etiological differences from those in the West. Socioeconomic constraints, large patient population, scarcity of trained health workers, and inadequate infrastructure are major challenges faced in the management of these cancers. Despite these constraints, patients are treated with evidence based guidelines that are tailored to the local scenario.

Epidemiology and demographics of head and neck cancers: a hospital based retrospective study in Andhra Pradesh

“…Another established risk factor for HNC is Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). The mechanism of HPV related cancer is thought to be by increase in viral oncoprotein activity and individual variations in protein expression, and genetic and epigenetic alterations [30]. However, in our study we did not observe any of our patients having HPV infection.…”

A retrospective study on head and neck malignancies in a tertiary care hospital in Telangana region

“…1 Risk factor distribution in the present study depicted tobacco chewing and alcohol consumption as most common risk factor for Oral malignancies (74%) which is in accordance to Dandekar et al study. 4 Beedi/cigarette smoking as most common risk factor for oropharyngeal malignancies (46%) which is in accordance to Alam et al study, alcohol being the most common risk factor for hypopharyngeal malignancies (43%) and smoking + drinking (49%) as most common risk factor for laryngeal malignancies which is in accordance to Maier et al study. 13,14 The following observations were noted based on clinical presentation distribution of study population:…”

“…The most common salivary gland involved in malignancies was parotid gland (100%) which is in accordance to Bobati et al 9 The most common site for head and neck cancers was oral cavity in present study which is in accordance to Dandekar et al study. 4 The following observations were noted based on nodal status distribution of study population:…”

“…3 India being the country of diversity, varied cultures and traditions, the demographic characteristic of these cancers also vary in different individuals. 4 Maximum incidence of head and neck cancers occur in 5th-6th decade of life. 5 Oral cancers occur after 5th decade, 2 oropharyngeal 6 and laryngeal in 6th-8th decade, 7 sinonasal in 6th and 7th decade, 8 salivary gland in 4th -5th decade, 9 nasopharyngeal has bimodal age distribution i.e., 2nd decade and 5th decade of life.…”

Head and neck cancer in India: Problems faced by treating oncosurgeon.

“…This is due to habits of using smokeless tobacco along with lime, Katha and supari 1,4 . Many have the habits of keeping this quid in their mouth for a long time.…”