oropharyngeal cancer


oropharyngeal cancer

ENT A malignancy of the lips, tongue, floor of mouth, salivary glands, buccal mucosa, gingiva, palate, and throat; most are SCCs linked to tobacco use and/or smoking, and tend to spread rapidly High risk factors Alcohol abuse, poor dental and oral hygiene, chronic irritation–eg, rough teeth, dentures, etc; OCs begin as leukoplakia or mouth ulcers; 2:1, ♂:♀. See Squamous cell carcinoma. Oropharyngeal cancer-Stages Lesion is ≤ 2 cm and confined to the oropharynx II  Lesion is between 2 cm and 4 cm and confined to the oropharynx III Lesion is ≥ 4 cm and may involve a single lymph node on same side of neck IV Lesion has spread to the hard palate, tongue, or larynx, to nearby lymph nodes, or metastasized