Head & Neck

Question 1

What are the risk factors of Head and Neck cancer?

Answer 1

• smoking (most common)
• HPV infection

Others:
- poor oral hygiene
- irradiation
- long standing immunosuppression
- poor diet

Question 2

What is head and neck cancer and its types?

Answer 2

• Tumour arising from the oral cavity, larynx and pharynx
• Malignant tumours of tongue, soft/hard palate, gingiva, naso/oro hypopharynx and larynx
• 90% SCC
• 10% ADC

Question 3

What are the forms of diagnosis?

Answer 3

• ORL/Maxfax clinical examination
• Endoscopy
• Laryngomicroscopy with biopsy for
  laryngeal cancer
• MDT meeting
• P16 and HPV testing for oropharyngeal testing

Question 4

What is the treatment strategy for laryngeal cancer

Answer 4

• predominantly surgery radiotherapy for resectable tumour
• Chemo therapy for unresectable tumours
• Cisplatin, 5-fluoruracil
• if EGFR + Cetuximab (can be used with pacliataxel and carboplatin)
• if PDL1 + (pembrolizumab)