Reviewing the epidemiology of head and neck cancer: definitions, trends and risk factors

By M. Gormley, Grant Creaney, A. Schache, Kate Ingarfield, D. Conway. British Dental Journal, 2022

616 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Introduction Head and neck cancer appears to be increasing in incidence, with potential changes in aetiology proposed. This paper aims to provide a narrative overview of the epidemiological literature to describe the disease burden and trends in terms of incidence and mortality both in the UK and globally and to review the evidence on current risk factors. MethodsA search was performed on multiple databases (PubMed and Epistemonikos), applying filters to identify systematic reviews and meta-analyses which investigated head and neck cancer incidence, mortality and risk factors. International and UK cancer registries and sources were searched for incidence and mortality data. Results Multiple definitions of head and neck cancer are employed in epidemiology. Globally, incidence rates have increased in recent decades, largely driven by oropharyngeal cancer. Mortality rates over the last decade have also started to rise, reflecting the disease incidence and static survival rates. Major risk factors include tobacco smoking alone and in combination with alcohol consumption, betel chewing (particularly in Southeast Asian populations) and the human papillomavirus in oropharyngeal cancer. ConclusionsThese epidemiological data can inform clinical and preventive service planning for head and neck cancer. Head and neck cancer incidence is increasing and is projected to continue to rise, largely driven by increases in oropharyngeal cancer. Mortality rates have started to increase within the last decade, reflecting a rising incidence and static survival rates. Major risk factors that are associated with the risk of head and neck cancer are tobacco smoking and tobacco used in combination with alcohol consumption. Human papillomavirus is an additional major risk factor for oropharyngeal cancer. Cancers of the head and neck are clearly socioeconomically patterned but this socioeconomic risk is not entirely explained by smoking and alcohol behaviours. Head and neck cancer incidence is increasing and is projected to continue to rise, largely driven by increases in oropharyngeal cancer. Mortality rates have started to increase within the last decade, reflecting a rising incidence and static survival rates. Major risk factors that are associated with the risk of head and neck cancer are tobacco smoking and tobacco used in combination with alcohol consumption. Human papillomavirus is an additional major risk factor for oropharyngeal cancer. Cancers of the head and neck are clearly socioeconomically patterned but this socioeconomic risk is not entirely explained by smoking and alcohol behaviours.

Subfields: Epidemiology, Genetics, Otorhinolaryngology

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/7635c6a2ab0bc85042a9c431f2a98dd7a96829e4

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Citations in the corpus

Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Prevention of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (2023, background): “The highest incidence rates are observed in India, where tobacco (with or without the areca nut) accounts for up to 80% of all HNSCC cases [4].”
Comprehensive Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Distinct Gene Expression Patterns of Tumor Microenvironment in HPV-Associated and HPV-Non Associated Tonsillar Squamous Cell Carcinoma (2023, background): “…(hr-HPV), primarily HPV-16, HPV 31, HPV 18, HPV 56, HPV 52, HPV 33, and HPV 35, as well as other hr-HPV genotypes [8,9], placing tonsilla squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) as the most invasive of the oropharyngeal cancers, accounting for more than 23% of all oropharyngeal malignancies [7,10,11].”