Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a group of cancers that usually originate in the squamous cells that line inside surface of the upper aerodigestive tract which includes paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, oral cavity, nostrils, and salivary glands. Head and neck cancer have a very poor prognosis. Worldwide, each year, approximately 6.4 lakh new cases of head and neck cancer are diagnosed. The prevalence of HNC in older males is highest with three-fold higher among men than in women.
But in recent years, the incidence of HNC is seen to be increasing in young non-smokers wherein human papillomavirus (HPV) plays a foremost role as an etiological factor in the development of the oropharyngeal head and neck cancer. The population who have a long-term history of smoking and alcohol are at a greater risk of developing HNC. Other risk factors include tobacco, dietary factors,…
