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Head and neck carcinomas in patients under the age of forty years
M Tsukuda1, K Ooishi, I Mochimatsu
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yokohama City University, School of Medicine, Kanagawa.
Insights
Young patients under 40 with head and neck cancers often present with poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Nasopharyngeal cancers were most common in this demographic.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Head and Neck Surgery
Background:
- Head and neck carcinomas are typically diagnosed in older adults.
- Younger patients (<40 years) with these cancers represent a distinct clinical group.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the characteristics of head and neck carcinomas in patients under 40 years old.
- To identify common primary sites and histological features in this young demographic.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective survey of 1,104 head and neck carcinoma patients admitted between 1973-1988.
- Analysis of patient demographics, primary tumor site, and histological grade for patients under 40.
Main Results:
- 48 patients (4.3%) were under 40 years old, with a male predominance (36 males, 12 females).
- The most frequent primary sites were the nasopharynx (29 cases), maxillary sinus (9 cases), and tongue (4 cases).
- Squamous cell carcinoma in this cohort characteristically showed a low grade of differentiation.
Conclusions:
- Head and neck carcinomas in young patients (<40 years) exhibit specific epidemiological and pathological features.
- Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a significant concern in younger individuals, often presenting as poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma.
Abstract:
From 1973 to 1988, 1,104 patients with head and neck carcinomas (excluding thyroid carcinoma) were admitted to the Yokohama City University Hospital, and among them, 48 (4.3%) were under the age of 40 years. We made a retrospective survey of these young patients. There were 36 males and 12 females. An increasing ratio of male to female was seen with increasing age. The primary site was most frequently the nasopharynx (29 cases), followed by the maxillary sinus (9 cases), and the tongue (4 cases). Squamous cell carcinoma in these young patients characteristically showed a low grade of differentiation.