The respiratory tract is a common site for cancer. Exposure to inhaled industrial and environmental particles, particularly those associated with smoking, is a major cause. Viruses also play a part, particularly the Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and human papillomavirus in squamous carcinomas of oropharynx, larynx, and bronchus. We focus on the more common and important cancers of the respiratory tract and give differential diagnoses where relevant. The World Health Organization has recently produced revised classifications of tumours of the respiratory tract (2004) and head and neck (2005). Sarcomatoid carcinoma has been added to the previously recognized squamous cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell undifferentiated carcinoma of the lung in the new classification. Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma is also included as a recognized entity. It is increasingly recognized that precursor and early lesions are the best targets for interventions. Detection, biology, and current practice regarding assessment of precursor lesions are covered. It is increasingly recognized that many respiratory cancers arise in a field and second primaries with similar molecular features to the original tumour are being described.

No abstract