Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Cancer, Staging, MR, CT, Head and neck
Authors:
E. Serrano Alcalá1, E. Grive1, C. Mazzara Bou1, A. A. MARIN SUAREZ2, V. Querol Borras1, S. Grossi3, A. M. Gallart Ortuño1, M. Rovira1; 1Barcelona/ES, 208029, BARCELONA/ES, 3Parma (PR)/IT
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2018/C-2212
Background
Head and neck cancer (HNC) constitute a heterogeneous group of upper aerodigestive tract malignancies originated in the lip,
oral cavity,
hypopharynx,
oropharynx,
nasopharynx or larynx,
that together constitute the seventh most common cancer worldwide.
Oral cavity and laryngeal cancers are the most common head and neck cancers globally,
and the squamous cell carcinoma represents 89% of them.
Although tobacco and alcohol consume had been historically the main risk factors to develop HNC,
human papillomavirus (HPV) has been recognized over the past decade as another important cause of HNC.
(1).
In order to categorize tumors of the head and neck region,
the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) published the first edition of the TNM classification in 1968,
followed by the American Joint Committee (AJCC) that published a separate classification in 1977; both systems became unified some years later.
The tumor,
node,
metastasis (TNM) is an anatomically based system that records the primary and regional nodal extent of the tumour and the absence or presence of metastases.
There are three categories included in the staging: T-describes the extent of primary tumor; N-refers to absence or presence and extent of regional lymph nodes; and M- depicts the absence or presence of distant metastasis.
Cancer staging is a common language in which health professional can communicate on cancer prognosis and treatment selection.
That’s why this classification is in constant revision and change,
the last update ( 8th edition) was published by AJCC and UICC in January 2017 to be implemented effective January 2018.