Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 5, 2026

Therapy Testing in a Spheroid-based 3D Cell Culture Model for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: April 20, 2018
Cohort study of oncologic emergencies in patients with head and neck cancer
Cielito C Reyes-Gibby1, Stephanie C Melkonian1, Ehab Y Hanna2
1Department of Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
Background:
Treatments for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are associated with toxicities that lead to emergency department presentation.
Methods:
We utilized data from an ongoing prospective cohort of newly diagnosed, previously untreated patients (N = 298) with HNSCC to evaluate the association between clinical and epidemiologic factors and risk for and frequency of emergency department presentation. Time to event was calculated from the date of treatment initiation to emergency department presentation, date of death, or current date. Frequency of emergency department presentation was the sum of emergency department visits during the follow-up time.
Results:
History of hypertension, normal/underweight body mass index (BMI), and probable depression predicted increased risk for emergency department presentation. BMI and severe pain were associated with higher frequency of emergency department presentations.
Conclusion:
Clinical and epidemiologic factors can help predict patients with HNSCC who will present to the emergency department. Such knowledge may improve treatment-related patient outcomes and quality of life. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 1195-1204, 2017.
Related Concept Videos
Cancer Survival Analysis
Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
Arteries of the Head and Neck
The internal carotid arteries supply blood to the anterior portion of the cerebrum. They enter the...
Treatment Resistant Cancers
Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
Veins of Head and Neck
On the other hand, the vertebral veins, unlike their arterial counterparts, are not primarily responsible for brain drainage. Instead, they drain the cervical vertebrae, spinal cord, and some small...

