Epidemiological and Histopathological Analysis of Head and Neck Cancers in Northern India- A Retrospective Review

• Published in: Indian journal of otolaryngology, and head, and neck surgery and head, and neck surgery, 2024-02, Vol.76 (1), p.422-427
• Main Authors: Lakhera, Kamal Kishor, Kumar, Vimal, Singhal, Pranav Mohan, Patel, Pinakin, Chatterjee, Aishwarya, Singh, Suresh, Babu, Agil, Sharma, Raj Govind
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Head & neck cancer; Head and Neck Surgery; Larynx; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Article; Otorhinolaryngology; Skin cancer; Squamous cell carcinoma; Tumors
• ISSN: 2231-3796; 0973-7707
• DOI: 10.1007/s12070-023-04176-4

Introduction: Head and neck malignancies are responsible for 30% of all cancers in India with a dramatic increase in numbers due to widespread tobacco consumption. This study aims to assess the epidemiological and histopathological spectrum of these tumors. Materials and Methods: A large retrospective review of 5469 biopsy-proven patients presenting between 2018 and 2022 with head and neck cancers was done. Tumors were analysed for distribution according to sites of presentations, gender, age and histopathological profiles. Results: With a male-to-female ratio of 4.2:1, men constituted 80.80% of the study population. Mean age of presentation in women was 53.5 years, whereas men presented at an earlier age of 47.2 years. Oral cavity was the commonest site involved (59.7% cases) followed by the oropharynx (23.8% cases). Buccal mucosa was the commonest subsite involved with 1112 cases followed by tongue lesions with 1088 cases. Larynx was responsible for 17.04% of cases. All subsites were more commonly affected in men with the highest Male: Female ratio of 8.29:1 seen in larynx. The lowest ratio of 1.02:1 was seen in lesions of the face and scalp. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was the most common histopathological diagnosis encountered in 88.97% of cases followed by basal cell carcinoma which was seen in 2.10% lesions. Conclusion: Oral cavity lesions constitute the bulk of head and neck cancer presentations in India. The disease is more prevalent in men overall and men present at a younger age in comparison to women. SCC is the most prominent histopathology encountered in our study.