Head and neck cancer in blacks

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Head and neck cancers represent a significant proportion of all malignancies.
• Previous observations suggested a potential disparity in head and neck cancer incidence among different racial groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the incidence and age of onset of head and neck cancers in Black versus White populations.
• To compare the proportion of head and neck cancers within all cancer diagnoses across racial groups.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of tumor registry data from University Hospitals of Cleveland (UHOC) spanning 1975-1989.
• Analysis of cancer incidence by age, sex, race, and specific head and neck cancer site.
• Comparison of observed frequencies with county and national cancer statistics.

Main Results:

• Head and neck cancers constituted 6.1% of all cancers at UHOC, higher than county (3.7%) and national (5.5%) rates.
• Black men and women showed a higher proportion of head and neck cancers (7.7%) compared to White individuals (5.7%).
• Black patients were 2-4 times more likely than White patients to be diagnosed with head and neck cancers before age 50 (P < .01), excluding salivary gland cancers.

Conclusions:

• Findings confirm an increased incidence of head and neck cancers in Black individuals compared to White individuals.
• The data indicate an earlier age of onset for head and neck cancers in the Black population.
• These disparities highlight the need for targeted cancer screening and prevention strategies in at-risk populations.