6.9.5: 5. Evaluation of Oropharyngeal Cancer- Key points
- Page ID
- 53882
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Evaluation of Oropharyngeal Cancer: Key points
- Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) occurs most commonly
- Etiology includes smoking and HPV infection
- Histological diagnosis is essential, also to exclude malignancies like minor salivary cancers, melanoma, lymphoma, and inflammatory causes (e.g. TB)
- Surgery +/- (chemo)radiation, or primary chemoradiation offers the best chance of cure
- Objectives of preoperative evaluation
- Confirm diagnosis
- Staging
- Patient evaluation: Fitness, objectives (cure vs palliation), ability to undergo surgery +/- (chemo)radiation, or primary (chemo)radiation, and ability to deal with the long-term consequences of treatment
- Decide whether to offer curative or palliative treatment
- Surgery
- Plan appropriate surgery
- Avoid inappropriate surgery
- Avoid surgery beyond the scope of the surgeon
- Primary chemoradiation
- Ability to complete treatment
- Ability to deal with long-term consequences of treatment