Abstract

Background: Head & neck cancers (HNCs) are a significant type of Pakistani cancer. Due to significant diversified risk factors, the range varies from place to place within the region.

Aims and Purpose:The objective of this research was to highlight the epidemiological aspects of malignant head & neck tumors in southwest Pakistan, with a view to examining the burden of disease, gender, site distribution and demographical profile.

Study concept and Location: Retrospective research conducted at Centre for Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy (CENAR), Quetta.

Materials and Methods: All patients with histologically confirmedHead and Neck cancerdiagnoses werechosen from the clinical recordbetween January 1998 and December 2018(21years). Information with respect to sex, location of the tumor, and other points of interest was gotten from their clinical records and the factual investigation was done.

Results: There were 24687 patients registered at CENAR Quetta during the study period. Of such cases,23,887 have been examined. Head & neck cancers are the third most common tumor with a prevalence rate of 10%. The most frequently affected sites was oral cavity (47percent), followed by Nasopharynx (16percent). It is 3rd most commonmales’tumor and the 4th most common females’tumor with a 1.5:1.0ratio.Maximum HNCIncidence (32.79percent) was in ages 60-69 years.

Conclusion: Malignancy of Head & neck has been the3rd mostprevalentform of cancer reported at CENAR in the last 21 years.Most patients undergo cancer therapy at thelater stages of the disease due tolackofknowledge, education, and medical services, whichmakes cure quitedifficult. The major causes of cancer of the head & neck aresmoking and tobacco couse, paan, naswar, etc. A strong correlation has been found between tobacco use, male gender, and low level of education. To minimize the preventable risk factor of head & neck cancer, the younger generation should be aware of the adverse effects of tobacco use.

Key Words: Epidemiology, Head & Neck Cancer(HNC), Prevalence, Gender, Site distribution, Southwestern