Pattern of head and neck malignancies in eastern part of Nepal.

: The term head and neck refers to the upper aerodigestive tract, the salivary glands, the thyroid, parathyroid glands, the sino-nasal tract and the skin of the head and neck region. Malignancies at these sites are important due to the divergence in their behaviors and prognosis. A retrospective, cross sectional, series of cases were studied to determine the pattern of head and neck malignancies in our department from January, 2005 to July, 2006. A total of 90 cases of head and neck malignancies proven on histopathology were studied. Pharynx 25 (27.78%) was the commonest site involved by cancer. In the pharynx, malignancies at the nasopharyngeal region contributed to the bulk of the tumor constituting 12 (48.00%). Histopathologically, squamous cell carcinoma was seen in 61, (67.77%) subjects. Most of the patients presented in IIIrd or IVth stage of disease. The commonest treatment strategy adopted was surgery with post operative radiotherapy. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a major concern in this part of the region.