Spectrum of Head-Neck cancers at Allahabad

A retrospective study of Head-Neck malignancy was conducted at Allahabad over a period of twenty two years from 1975 to 1996. During this period, 5,386 new Head-Neck Cancer cases were reported. Peak presentation of males was in sixth decade and in females it was in fifth decade of life. The sex ratio in this series was 3∶6∶1 while reverse sex ratio was observed in malignancies of thyroid, alveolus-gingiva, nasal cavity and post-cricoid region. Oral cavity lesion was the predominant cancer followed by larynx and oropharyngeal malignancy. Histologically, majority (89.97%) were squamous cell carcinoma with varied differentiation. Factors responsible for the high incidence of Head-Neck Cancers are discussed. An argent need is felt for the prevention and cessation strategies to achieve the goal of smoke free society by the year 2000 as expressed by Dr. Knoop so as to revert back the present trend of preventable Head-Neck Cancers.