Pattern of head and neck malignancies in eastern part of Nepal

The term head and neck refers to the upper aerodigestive tract, the salivary glands, the thyroid, parathyroid glands, the sino-nasal tract and the skin of the head and neck region. Malignancies at these sites are important due to the divergence in their behaviors and prognosis. A retrospective, cross sectional, series of cases were studied to determine the pattern of head and neck malignancies in our department from January, 2005 to July, 2006. A total of 90 cases of head and neck malignancies proven on histopathology were studied. Pharynx 25 (27.78%) was the commonest site involved by cancer. In the pharynx, malignancies at the nasopharyngeal region contributed to the bulk of the tumor constituting 12 (48.00%). Histopathologically, squamous cell carcinoma was seen in 61, (67.77%) subjects. Most of the patients presented in IIIrd or IVth stage of disease. The commonest treatment strategy adopted was surgery with post operative radiotherapy. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a major concern in this part of the region.