5: Head and neck cancer Flashcards Preview

ENT Week 2 2017/18 > 5: Head and neck cancer > Flashcards

Flashcards in 5: Head and neck cancer Deck (26)
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1
Q

What are the big risk factors for head and neck cancers?

A

Smoking

Alcohol

Viruses (HPV)

2
Q

Which strains of HPV cause papillomas and carcinomas?

A

Papillomas - HPV 6 and 11

Carcinomas - HPV 16 and 18

3
Q

Young people tend to develop head and neck cancers due to ___.

A

viral infection

HPV - oral sex

4
Q

What virus is linked to nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

A

Epstein Barr virus (EBV)

5
Q

Where do oral cancers tend to arise?

A

Buccal mucosa

Lateral borders of tongue

6
Q

What should you do if you find a dodgy lesion on oral examination?

A

Feel it

7
Q

How do

a) benign
b) malignant

oral lesions feel?

A

a) Soft

b) Firm

8
Q

What would you find on neck examination of someone with ENT cancer?

A

Enlarged lymph nodes

Thyroid lumps (which move up and down)

9
Q

What is used to look into the pharynx and larynx?

A

Endoscope

10
Q

How are biopsies taken from ENT tumours?

A

FNA

11
Q

Apart from endoscopy and biopsies, what other investigations are done for head and neck cancers?

A

Ultrasound

X-ray

MRI

CT

12
Q

Are blood tests done for head and neck cancers?

A

No

not many markers for these cancers

13
Q

Which scan is used for bony cancers?

Which scan is used for soft tissue cancers?

A

CT (hard)

MRI (soft)

14
Q

Why are CXRs commonly done in addition to investigations for head and neck cancers?

A

Risk factors for ENT / lung cancers are the same

So chances are they have primary / secondary lung cancers as well

15
Q

How are head and neck cancers managed?

A

MDT

16
Q

What is the most common form of ENT cancer?

A

Squamous cell carcinoma

because the cavities are lined by squamous epithelium

17
Q

Does hoarseness automatically mean a glottic tumour?

A

No

18
Q

Which cranial nerve is disrupted to cause hoarseness?

What are some possible causes?

A

CN X

Disruption to recurrent laryngeal nerve, so lung problems and aortic aneurysm

19
Q

Apart from CN X, which other cranial nerve can be damaged by ENT cancers?

A

CN VII

20
Q

Which lymph node becomes enlarged in a variety of different, diffuse cancers?

A

Virchow’s node

Left supraclavicular node

21
Q

Why might a patient become hypocalaemic following ENT surgery?

A

Removal of parathyroid glands

i.e glands can be gammied by cancer surgery

22
Q

What is the difference between wheeze and stridor?

A

Wheeze is EXPIRATORY, deep, best heard over the lung bases

STRIDOR is INSPIRATORY, high pitched, comes from the upper airways

(Stertor is the preceding sound)

23
Q

What may be compromised in ENT cancers?

A

Airway

24
Q

Why may a patient with ENT cancer experience dysphagia?

A

Compression of oesophagus

25
Q

Why is it important for cancer patients to see the same doctor on each visit?

A

Continuity of care - trust

Confidentiality

26
Q

If a relative asks to discuss a patient’s condition, what do you need?

A

Patient’s consent