Malignant head and neck tumours in Radiology Department JPMC Karachi -- a tertiary care experience

To study age, gender and sites of malignant head and neck tumours on contrast-enhanced computed tomography and to elucidate its role.

The retrospective study was conducted at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, and comprised data of patients with histologically proven malignant head and neck tumours reporting from February 2013 to February 2014. Contrast enhanced computed tomography with puffed cheek technique was done in cases of oral cancer, while routine contrast computed tomography was done in cases of other head and neck tumours. SPSS 19 was used for statistical analysis.

A total of 100 biopsy-proven cases of malignant tumours comprised the study sample. The male: female ratio was 1.5:1 with an overall mean age of 46.4±16-76 years. . The most common histopathologically proven tumour was squamous cell carcinoma affecting oral mucosa 43(43%), followed by larynx 27(27%) and pharynx 10(10%) .

Oral squamous cell carcinoma was the commonest tumour. Compute tomography scan with puffed cheek technique played a beneficial role in locating the site of primary tumour.