Head and neck cancers in paediatric population including recent advances

Abstract

Addressing health issues in paediatric population poses a major challenge to health care providers due to lack of child’s capability in expressing varied range of symptoms through which they undergo which may be of utmost diagnostic significance, thereby delaying early diagnosis. Unfortunately, Cancer is well known to be a common cause for increase in mortality rates in children. To achieve early diagnosis, careful attention to constellation symptoms portrayed by chid and/or parents suggestive of malignancy may aid in earlier diagnosis. With no disparity between early and late diagnosed cases, treatment modalities such as radio/chemotherapy and surgeries poses risk of recurrence, short and long term effects due to chemo/ radiation. To overcome all the aforementioned facts, new perspectives like targeted immunotherapy and Proton beam therapy proves beneficial and prevents children from emotional and physical trauma and primarily, from peer pressure. Updating with common head and cancers and advances in treatment may facilitate health care professionals in early diagnosis thereby, preventing disease progression. This article briefs about commonly occuring head and neck tumors in paediatrics, latest updates, advancements and an overview of impact of Global pandemic on current oncology practices with special concern on outcomes to be faced post pandemic.