PREVALANCE OF HEAD AND NECK CANCER IN UPPER ASSAM: AN INSTITUTIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

In India, head and neck cancers (HNCA) account for 14.3% cancers at all sites. In North-eastern India, there is a high prevalence of HNCA which can be associated with pervasive habit of using tobacco, lime and betel. The alarmingly high prevalence of cancers of head and neck in this part of India has prompted us to take up this study. Ahospital-based study on prevalence of cancer in various head and neck regions like oropharynx, oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, salivary glands and nasal cavity was conducted in Department of Radiation Oncology, Assam Medical College and Hospital from June 2020 to May 2021.The prevalence is found to be signicantly high at 57.59%, affecting males more than females in the age group of 50-59 years. HNCA of hypopharynx and oral cavity constituted a major burden of total body cancer. This study hopes to quantify and analyse the HNCAspectrum and should help as a starting point for a much needed population based study in this region. Acomprehensive effort is required to identify the cause of such high prevalence of HNCAin this region of India, generate awareness and treatment options suited to meet this challenge.