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INTRODUCTION: This study aims to evaluate the epidemiology, treatment, and factors that determine the outcomes of head and neck cancers (HNC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analytical review of HNC managed at the Jos University Teaching Hospital between May 2007 and April 2017 using the International Classification of Diseases version 10. RESULTS: Of 487 head and neck neoplasms, 129 (26.5%) were malignant and 122 health records met the criteria for analysis consisting of 83 (68.0%) males and 39 (32.0%) females aged 13 years to 85 years (mean = 51 years; standard deviation = ±16.0 years). The most common presenting feature was nasal obstruction (n = 47; 38.5%). The most common tumor site was the nasopharynx (n = 34; 27.9%). Mean duration of symptoms was 13.3 months. Alcohol (P = 0.02), cigarette smoking (P = 0.01), and cooking wood smoke (P = 0.01) were associated with advanced tumor stage. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common histological type. Posttreatment complication rate was 47.5%. Lost to follow-up rate was 55.7%. The lungs were the most common distant metastatic site. The case fatality rate was 18.0%. CONCLUSION: HNC constitutes almost a quarter of head and neck tumors affecting twice the number of males in their sixth decade with nasopharyngeal cancers being the most common in both genders. Several modifiable variables are noted to target appropriate future cancer education for lifestyle modification, screening for early detection and treatment.
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BACKGROUND: Stage of head and neck cancers at presentation is a strong determinant of outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate predictors of stage of head and neck cancers at presentation and survival in a Nigerian tertiary hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Health records that met the inclusion criteria for head and neck cancers were retrieved using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision and analyzed with associations between variables modeled using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: From a record of 487 head and neck neoplasms, 129 (26.5%) were malignant of which 122 health records met the criteria for analysis consisting of 83 (68.0%) males and 39 (32.0%) females aged 13-85 years (mean = 51 years; standard deviation = ±16 years). Alcohol (odds ratio = 1.99; 95% confidence interval = 1.08-3.69; p = 0.02) and tobacco exposure (odds ratio = 3.07; 95% confidence interval = 1.32-7.16; p = 0.01) were associated with increased odds for advanced tumor stage at presentation. Stage IV cancer (hazard ratio = 1.44; 95% confidence interval = 1.80-2.59), alcohol (hazard ratio = 2.19; 95% confidence interval = 1.18-4.10) and tobacco use (hazard ratio = 3.40; 95% confidence interval = 1.22-8.74) were associated with increased hazards for death. CONCLUSION: Alcohol, tobacco use and smoke from cooking wood are predictive factors for advanced HNC stage at presentation. Stage IV cancer, alcohol and tobacco use were associated with an increased hazard for death.
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BACKGROUND: The risk factors for head and neck cancers (HNC) vary in different parts of the world. OBJECTIVES: To identify the risk factors for HNC and the correlation between these factors and the involved anatomical sites. METHODS: We retrieved and analyzed health records of patients that met the inclusion criteria for HNC managed at our facility in a 10-year period using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) version 10. RESULTS: We studied 122 patients with a male to female ratio of 2.1:1 aged 13 years to 85 years (mean = 51 years). Alcohol (P = .02), cigarette smoking (P = .01), and cooking wood smoke (P = .01) were associated with advanced tumor stage. CONCLUSIONS: The strongest risk factors for HNC are alcohol, tobacco, HIV, agricultural chemicals, and cooking wood fumes in both sexes in their sixth and seventh decades.
