Head and neck cancer epidemiology and demographics

Jump to navigation Jump to search


Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Maneesha Nandimandalam, M.B.B.S.[2]

Head and Neck cancer Microchapters

Patient Information

Overview

Classification

Brain tumor
Oral cancer
Nasopharyngeal cancer
Hypopharyngeal cancer
Glomus tumor
Salivary gland tumor
Laryngeal cancer
Thyroid cancer
Parathyroid cancer
Esophageal cancer

Causes

Differential diagnosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [3]

Overview

Epidemiology and Demographics

Prevalence

The number of new cases of head and neck cancers in the United States was 40,490 in 2006, accounting for about 3% of adult malignancies. 11,170 patients died of their disease in 2006.[1] The worldwide incidence exceeds half a million cases annually.

  • Head and neck cancers account for approximately 3 to 5 percent of all cancers in the United States.
  • In the U.S. there were 28,900 people diagnosed with cancers of the throat and oral cavity in 2002.[2]
  • Seventy-four hundred Americans are projected to die of these cancers.[2]
  • More than 70% of throat cancers are at an advanced stage when discovered.[3]
  • Men are 89% more likely than women to be diagnosed with, and are almost twice as likely to die of, these cancers.[2]
  • African-American men are at a 50% higher risk of throat cancer than Caucasian males.
  • Smoking and tobacco use are directly related to Oro-pharangeal (throat) cancer deaths.[4]

Age

  • These cancers are more common in men and in people over age 50.

Gender

  • These cancers are more common in men and in people over age 50.

Race

  • In North America and Europe, the tumors usually arise from the oral cavity, oropharynx, or larynx, whereas nasopharyngeal cancer is more common in the Mediterranean countries and in the Far East.
  • In Southeast China and Taiwan, head and neck cancer, specifically Nasopharyngeal Cancer is the most common cause of death in young men.[5]
  • African Americans are disproportionately affected by head and neck cancer, with younger ages of incidence, increased mortality, and more advanced disease at presentation.[6]

References

  1. Jemal A, Siegel R, Ward E, Murray T, Xu J, Smigal C, Thun M. "Cancer statistics, 2006". CA Cancer J Clin. 56 (2): 106–30. PMID 16514137.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Cancer Facts and Figures, http://www.cancer.org/downloads/STT/CancerFacts&Figures2002TM.pdf,, American Cancer Society 2002.
  3. Throat Cancer patient information web page, http://cancer.nchmd.org/treatment.aspx?id=741, NCH Healthcare Systems, 1999
  4. Reducing the Health Consequences of Smoking: 25 Years of Progress. A Report of the Surgeon General, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1989.sad
  5. Titcomb C (2001). "High incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Asia". J Insur Med. 33 (3): 235–8. PMID 11558403.
  6. Gourin C, Podolsky R (2006). "Racial disparities in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma". Laryngoscope. 116 (7): 1093–106. PMID 16826042.