Head and Neck Cancers in a Tertiary Care Setting: A Retrospective Analysis

Abstract

Objective: To determine the site-distribution and relative frequency of head and neck cancers and to study their age and gender distribution and histological types across different anatomical subsites.
Study Design: A Retrospective cross-sectional record-based descriptive study.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted from July 01, 2020, to December 31, 2024, in the ENT Department, Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi.
Materials and Methods: The record of 305 patients, with age range of 14-79 years, and histologically confirmed cases of head and neck cancers, was reviewed over a period of four and a half years. Data on tumour sites, type, age, and gender were extracted and analyzed using SPSS v26. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) were calculated for each tumour category, and age was recorded as a range across the study population.
Results: Out of total 305 patients, 211 (69.2%) were males, while 94 (30.8%) were females. Oral cavity tumours were the most common, found in 76 cases (24.9%), followed by hypopharyngeal carcinomas, 51 cases (16.7%), oropharyngeal cancers, 47 cases (15.4%), nasal/paranasal carcinomas, 29 cases (9.5%) nasopharyngeal cancers, 27 cases (8.9%), laryngeal cancers, 23 cases (7.5%), salivary carcinomas in 18 cases (5.9%), thyroid carcinomas and neck tumours with unknown primary each 15 cases (4.9%) and aural cancers in 4 cases (1.4%).
Conclusion: Head and neck cancers predominantly involved the oral cavity, hypopharynx, and oropharynx, together accounting for nearly two-thirds of all cases. An overall male predominance was observed, consistent with reported regional patterns. However, the near-equal gender distribution of hypopharyngeal cancers among males and females was a noteworthy finding and warrants further investigations through larger multicentre studies to explore potential regional demographic, environmental, and risk factor influences.