Etiologic and epidemiologic factors of head and neck carcinoma

Abstract

Objectives: Cancer is the one of the most important problem that threats human life. Drug addiction, insufficient and/or unbalanced nutrition, environmental pollution, and unsuitable working conditions are all induce great risk for population health. When all of these factors investigated, protective medicine is getting more important according to integrity of the population health. We aimed to constitute a data base for determining the risks of population health and improve the protective medicine.Methods: Eighty-six patients who had treated for head and neck carcinoma in Ministry of Health Tepecik Training and Research Hospital ENT & Head and Neck Clinic between 2002 January - 2003 May were included to study. Histopathology and localization of the tumor, staging, age, job, rhinoscopic laryngoscopic and oral examinations, psychological status, habituations, smoking, drinking, and nutrition of these patients are investigated.Results: Larynx carcinoma is the most frequent type. Increased incidence of the head and neck carcinoma was observed at industrial cities where interaction with carcinogenic material is more. Significant correlation was observed between smoking and drinking with oral cavity tumors and larynx carcinoma.Conclusion: Like all of the health problems, risk of jobs and their protection methods, etiologic and epidemiologic factors must be declined to population. This is more important at head and neck carcinoma because of the difficulties of treatment modality, increased risk of losing organ and permanent anatomic defect.

Keywords

• head and neck cancer
• etiology
• epidemiologic factors