Medicine and Health
Head and neck cancer types
Most head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, forming in the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and throat. These squamous cell cancers can spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes and lungs.
Types of head and neck cancer include:
- Laryn geal cancer, a type of throat cancer affecting the larynx (sometimes called the voice box)
- Nasopharyngeal cancer, which develops in the nasopharynx, the upper part of the throat behind the nose
- Hypopharyngeal cancer, which develops in the hypopharynx, the lower part of the throat (sometimes called the gullet)
- Nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer, which forms behind the nose
- Salivary gland cancer, which is found in the saliva-producing glands near the jawbone
- Oral cancers, which begin in the mouth
- Oropharyngeal cancer, which develops in the oropharynx, the part of the throat behind the mouth
- Tonsil cancer
Head and neck cancer symptoms
Symptoms of head and neck cancer depend on the area where the cancer develops and how it spreads.
- A lump in the nose, neck or throat, with or without pain
- A persistent sore throat
- Trouble swallowing (dysphagia)
- Unexplained weight loss
- Frequent coughing
- Change in voice or hoarseness
- Ear pain or trouble hearing
- Headaches
- A red or white patch in the mouth
- Bad breath that’s unexplained by hygiene
- Nasal obstruction or persistent congestion
- Frequent nose bleeds or unusual discharge
- Trouble breathing
Diagnosing head and neck cancer
- Indirect pharyngoscopy and laryngoscopy
- Endoscopy
- Panendoscopy
- Biopsy, either incisional biopsy or fine-needle aspiration (FNA)
- X-ray
- Barium swallow, also called an upper GI series
- CT scan
- MRI
Head and neck cancer treatments
At City of Hope, we target head and neck tumors with a range of evidence-based treatments, such as radiation therapy, surgery and chemotherapy, as well as immunotherapy and targeted therapy. Your multidisciplinary team of head and neck cancer experts will answer your questions and recommend treatment options based on your unique diagnosis and needs.
Treatment options for patients with this type of cancer include:
- Surgery, which is often the first-line treatment for this type of cancer—either alone or in combination with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy, to help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells
- Targeted therapy, including drugs targeting epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR)
- Chemotherapy, although this type of treatment is typically reserved for patients whose cancer has spread to other parts of the body
- Radiation therapy, which delivers high doses of radiation to tumor cells in the head and neck using technology designed to reduce damage to healthy tissue and organs