RT Book, Section A1 McQuade, Jennifer L. A1 Gunn, G. Brandon A1 William, William N. A1 Kies, Merrill S. A2 Kantarjian, Hagop M. A2 Wolff, Robert A. SR Print(0) ID 1126741852 T1 Head and Neck Cancer T2 The MD Anderson Manual of Medical Oncology, 3e YR 2016 FD 2016 PB McGraw-Hill Medical PP New York, NY SN 9780071847940 LK hemonc.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1126741852 RD 2024/03/28 AB Head and neck cancers are a diverse group of diseases, each with distinct epidemiologic, anatomic, and pathologic features. The natural history and treatment considerations may vary widely. In this chapter, our focus is on the primary management of squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the head and neck (HNSCC). In recent years, we have observed significant advances in diagnosis and treatment and recognition of the human papillomavirus (HPV) as a significant causative agent and prognostic factor for cancers of the oropharynx. Tumor imaging is increasingly precise. Primary therapy eradicates disease in a majority of patients with early-stage HNSCC, and the long-term management of these patients currently involves an emphasis on general medical care, avoiding known carcinogens such as alcohol and tobacco, and participation in chemoprevention strategies to reduce the risk of second primary tumors. Therapy for patients with locally advanced disease is multimodal, and success has been achieved in improving local tumor control, disease remission, organ preservation, and overall survival. The integration of chemotherapy and novel “targeting” systemic treatment approaches with surgery and/or radiotherapy is under study and discussed.