ABSTRACT

INCIDENCE/ETIOLOGIC FACTORS n Head and neck malignancy: 78,000 cases annually (7% of all cancers) n Cancer deaths: 17,500 annually (4% of all cancers) n Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common, accounting for .90% of all head and

neck cancers. n Alcohol and tobacco have a synergistic effect: 15-fold increased incidence over nonusers

(squamous cell cancer) n Male predominance more than 2:1 n Other factors include consumption of betel nuts and smoked fish, exposure to wood dust

(nasopharyngeal), and human papillomavirus (HPV).