Author

Dr. Yasser Al Moudallal and Dr. Nesreen Khankan

Published in

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, Volume 19, Supplement 3, 2013

Abstract

Head and neck cancers include a wide number of different types of cancer arising from a variety of different sites in the head and neck. Cancer patterns show a large worldwide variation. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of the pattern of occurrence of head and neck cancers in a sample of the Syrian population. A retrospective hospital-based descriptive study was conducted of all cases of head and neck cancer at two hospitals in Damascus over a 3-year period (2008–2010). Information was obtained from the records of the 2 centres: Maxillofacial Hospital and the head and neck surgery department in Al Mouasah Hospital. A total of 267 cases of head and neck cancers were recorded. The male to female ratio was 4:1 and the mean age was 57.7 years. The 5 most common sites were larynx (45.0%), oral cavity (16.5%), skin of the head and neck (14.0%), lower lip (6.0%) and lymph nodes (5%). Nose and external auditory tube were the least common sites. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common histological type (69%). This study indicates the relative prominence of laryngeal, oral and skin cancers in this area.

Link to read full paper

http://applications.emro.who.int/emhj/v19/Supp3/EMHJ_2013_19_Supp3_S55_S59.pdf?ua=1