Epidemiology of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas: Impact on Staging and Prevention Strategies

Opinion statementThe epidemiology of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has shifted dramatically over the last 50  years, as smoking-related HNSCCs decrease in incidence while human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers rise. The shift in HNSCC risk factors has changed patient demographics, the distribution of affected anatomical subsites, and prognosis of this illness. As such, the medical community has respon ded by devising novel staging systems and prevention strategies. The medical community will require continued vigilance in reducing HNSCC traditional risks factors for HNSCC, such as cigarette use, and emerging risk like HPV infection.
Source: Current Treatment Options in Oncology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research