Head and Neck Cancers
The incidence of head and neck cancer is increasing and around 1,200 people are diagnosed with a head and neck cancer each year in Scotland, of which around 240 are thyroid cancers. The incidence of oropharyngeal cancer is increasing in the younger population, and appears to be associated with human papilloma virus (HPV) infection.
Risk factors for head and neck cancers (excluding thyroid) include: smoking, HPV, alcohol, poor diet, social deprivation, tobacco chewing habits (including Betel, Gutkha and Pan) and older age. The risk of developing nasopharyngeal cancer is higher in patients of Chinese origin and a higher index of suspicion should be used in these patients.
All patients with features suspicious of malignancy should be referred to a team specialising in the management of head, neck or thyroid cancers, depending on local arrangements
With the changing pattern of disease, age, non-smoking or non-drinking status should not be a barrier to referral.
Stridor
Head and Neck Cancer
- Persistent unexplained head and neck lumps for >3 weeks.
- Ulceration or unexplained swelling of the oral mucosa persisting for >3 weeks.
- All red or mixed red and white patches of the oral mucosa persisting for >3 weeks.
- Persistent hoarseness lasting for >3 weeks (request a chest x-ray at the same time).
- Dysphagia or odynophagia (pain on swallowing) lasting for >3 weeks.
- Persistent pain in the throat lasting for >3 weeks.
Thyroid Cancer
- Solitary nodule increasing in size.
- Thyroid swelling in a pre-pubertal patient.
- Thyroid swelling with one or more of the following risk factors:
- neck irradiation
- family history of endocrine tumour
- unexplained hoarseness
- cervical lymphadenopathy.
Reference:
Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer. Scottish Government, August 2014
SIGN Guideline 90 – Diagnosis and Management of Head and Neck Cancer
Clinical Lead Mr Andrew Carton, Head and Neck Surgeon, Monklands DGH
Review Date March 2017