New trends in the management of head and neck cancers

Head and neck cancers affect more than half million person a year worldwide. More than 40% have an advanced stage at diagnosis. The incidence in Lebanon according to the statistics of the Ministry of Public Health was 268 new cases in 2007. The tumors and their treatment modalities have an important impact on the quality of life because they influence communication, breathing and4 swallowing. Treatment modalities are evolving to more conservative approaches for better functional results without impeding survival. We present in this review the state of the art of the management of head and neck cancer in 2011 with emphasis on the most recent advances in the assessment, treatment and follow-up.