Head & Neck Cancer Information
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What is Head & Neck Cancer?
Head and neck cancer arises in the cells that line the mucosal surfaces in the head and neck area, such as the nasal cavity, sinuses, lips, mouth, salivary glands, throat, larynx (voice box), or lymph nodes of the neck.
Head and neck cancers overall account for about three to five percent of all cancers in the United States.
Head & Neck Cancer Types
Forms of head and neck cancer include:
- Squamous cell carcinoma occur within a specific type of cell that commonly makes up the epithelium, a type of tissue that lines hollow organs of the body, including the throat. Squamous cells look like thin, flat scales under a microscope.
- Adenocarcinomas develop in glandular cells, such as the salivary glands. These cells may also be found in the tissue lining certain organs.
- Metastatic squamous neck cancer describes a type of squamous cell carcinoma that has metastasized (spread) to the nearby lymph nodes within in the neck. It is not always known where in the neck the cancer originated, and sometimes the primary tumor is never found.
Other forms of head and neck cancer are identified by the area that they affect:
- Oral cavity cancer affects the front two-thirds of the tongue, gums, inside lining of the cheeks and lips, the bottom of the mouth under the tongue, the top of the mouth or the small area behind the wisdom teeth.
- Cancer of the salivary gland may affect the floor of the mouth and the region near the jawbone where some salivary glands are located.
- Pharyngeal cancer occurs within the pharynx, or any of its three parts including the nasopharynx, the oropharynx, and the hypopharynx. The pharynx is the part of the throat behind the sinus and oral cavities, extending down to the larynx.
- Laryngeal cancer is a type of cancer that develops within the larynx, which is sometimes referred to as the "voice box." The larynx houses the vocal cords and also includes the epiglottis, the small flap of tissue at the base of the tongue that keeps food and water from going down the airways.
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