Medknow Publications on behalf of Indian Cancer Society
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Head and neck neoplasia constitute one of the commonest
cancers in India. Use of smokeless tobacco (Pan masala, Zarda etc.) is
on the increase in North India, especially in Uttar Pradesh, and is
responsible for the large majority of these tumours. AIM: To assess
the patients\u2032 characteristics, yearly prevalence and
histopathological subtypes of the head and neck neoplasia (excluding
oral cavity) in Allahabad and surrounding regions. SETTINGS AND
DESIGN: A retrospective study of 11 years from 1990 to 2000 was
designed. Data was collected year-wise using the tumor registry data.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: All biopsies submitted for histopathology to the
Pathology department were reviewed and analyzed for demographic data,
site and diagnosis. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The Kolmogorov-Smirnov
Two-Sample Test was utilized to determine whether two distributions are
the same. RESULTS: A total of 40559 biopsies were examined in the
department, of which, lesions of the head and neck region, excluding
the oral cavity, constituted 694 biopsies (409 males and 285 females).
One hundred and forty-four malignant lesions were reported, 114 being
males and 30 females. A comparison of the age-specific prevalence rates
of cancer during the study period showed that the prevalence was
highest in patients belonging to the 50-59 years age group and squamous
cell carcinoma Grade II was the most prevalent type. On an average, 58
new biopsies per annum were received. CONCLUSIONS: Properly structured
site-specific data like this can augment the National Cancer Registry
Programme and is an essential indicator for the magnitude and the
pattern of the cancer problem in India