Head and neck cancer: epidemiological aspects of two large Brazilian medical centers

Abstract

Objective: To compare clinical and epidemiological aspects of Head and neck cancers (HNC) patients treated in hospitals in northeast and southeast regions of Brazil. Methodology: The study cross-sectional retrospective analyzed 519 medical records of patients treated between 2016 and 2021. The factors evaluated for HNC prevalence included demographic data, predisposing factors, tumor location, treatment type, and related oral manifestations. Qualitative variables were expressed in absolute and relative frequencies. The chi-square test assessed potential associations between these variables (p< 0.05). Results: 54.1% of patients were men and 45.9% were women. Hospitals significantly differed regarding sex, age, and tobacco use (p< 0.05). The accumulated percentage indicated that adults under 60 years old were the most affected (62.6%). The larynx/hypopharynx was the most prevalent location (51.8%), followed by the oral cavity (25.8%). The tongue was the most affected anatomical region in the oral cavity (11.0%). Conclusion: Patient profile showed possible changes, with both sexes being similarly affected in increasingly younger patients. Demographic and lifestyle factors suggest an association with HNC, representing information for consideration when screening more susceptible patients and tracking early-stage lesions.