What are head and neck cancers?
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American Dental Association answered:The oral cavity includes your lips, cheek lining, gums, front part of your tongue, floor of the mouth beneath the tongue and the hard palate that makes up the roof of your mouth. The throat (pharynx) starts at the soft part of the roof of your mouth and continues back into your throat. It includes the back section of your tongue as well as the base where the tongue attaches to the floor of your mouth. A malignant tumor in any of these areas constitutes head, neck or mouth cancer.
The oral cavity includes your lips, cheek lining, gums, front part of your tongue, floor of the mouth beneath the tongue and the hard palate that makes up the roof of your mouth. The throat (pharynx) starts at the soft part of the roof of your mouth... More -
Dr. Patrick Maguire answered:While cancer may develop within virtually any organ in the gastrointestinal (GI) system, most of the medical literature has focused on two specific areas: cancers of the upper GI tract and colorectal cancer (CRC). Among cancer specialists, cancers of the mouth, throat, and larynx (voice box) are generally labeled together as "head and neck cancers." However, since the mouth is the anatomic and physiologic beginning of the GI tract, these potential cancer sites are included with the upper GI tract here.While cancer may develop within virtually any organ in the gastrointestinal (GI) system, most of the medical literature has focused on two specific areas: cancers of the upper GI tract and colorectal cancer (CRC). Among cancer specialists,... More -
Riverside Cancer Care Center answered:Most head and neck cancers begin in the cells that line the mucosal surfaces in the head and neck area, e.g., mouth, nose, and throat. Mucosal surfaces are moist tissues lining hollow organs and cavities of the body open to the environment. Normal mucosal cells look like scales under the microscope, so head and neck cancers are often referred to as squamous cell carcinomas. Some head and neck cancers begin in other types of cells. For example, cancers that begin in glandular cells are called adenocarcinomas.
Cancers of the head and neck are further identified by the area in which they begin:
Oral cavity. The oral cavity includes the lips, the front two-thirds of the tongue, the gums, the lining inside the cheeks and lips, the bottom of the mouth under the tongue, the bony top of the mouth, and the small area behind the wisdom teeth.Salivary glands. The salivary glands produce saliva, the fluid that keeps mucosal surfaces in the mouth and throat moist. There are many salivary glands; the major ones are in the floor of the mouth, and near the jawbone.Paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity. The paranasal sinuses are small hollow spaces in the bones of the head surrounding the nose. The nasal cavity is the hollow space inside the nose.Pharynx. The pharynx is a hollow tube about 5 inches long that starts behind the nose and leads to the esophagus and the trachea. The pharynx has three parts.Larynx. The larynx, also called the voicebox, is a short passageway formed by cartilage just below the pharynx in the neck. The larynx contains the vocal cords. It also has a small piece of tissue, called the epiglottis, which moves to cover the larynx to prevent food from entering the air passages.Lymph nodes in the upper part of the neck. Sometimes, squamous cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes of the upper neck when there is no evidence of cancer in other parts of the head and neck. When this happens, the cancer is called metastatic squamous neck cancer with unknown (occult) primary.Cancers of the brain, eye, and thyroid as well as those of the scalp, skin, muscles, and bones of the head and neck are not usually grouped with cancers of the head and neck.
The answer is based on source information from the National Cancer Institute.
Most head and neck cancers begin in the cells that line the mucosal surfaces in the head and neck area, e.g., mouth, nose, and throat. Mucosal surfaces are moist tissues lining hollow organs and cavities of the body open to the environment. Normal... More -
Dr. Arlen Meyers answered:Head and neck cancer is a malignant tumor of the oral cavity, throat or voicebox. Usually associated with smoking and drinking. More recent evidence points to HPV virus as a cause, particularly cancer of the tonsil.Head and neck cancer is a malignant tumor of the oral cavity, throat or voicebox. Usually associated with smoking and drinking. More recent evidence points to HPV virus as a cause, particularly cancer of the tonsil. More
