Distribution of Malignancies in Head and Neck Regions and their Management

Abstract

A retrospective, cross sectional, series of cases were currently studied in the department of ENT-Head &
Neck Surgery of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) Kathmandu, Nepal to find out the distribution
of different malignancies in head and neck regions and to identify their treatment modalities during
the period of one year from January 2003 to December 2003.
Altogether 159 new cases of histopathologically/cytopathologically confirmedmalignancies of head and neck
regions and their treatment modalities were analyzed. Out of 159 cases, malignancies of larynx (41), pharynx
(31) and oral cavity (30) were found to be the commonest head and neck malignancies where as malignancies
of ear (1), and salivary glands (4) were found to be the least common. Likewise surgery with or
without radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy was found to be the commonest treatment modality. Of the 159
cases seven were occult primary.
As the laryngo-pharyngo-oral malignancies are the commonest malignancies and surgery with or without
radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy the commonest treatment modalities for these head and neckmalignancies.
Awell equipped head and neck unit is needed at TUTH along with proposed radiotherapy and medical
oncology support for better management of these malignancies.
Key Words: Carcinoma, Head and Neck, Malignancy, Surgery, Radiotherapy.