Pattern of Head and neck malignancies in Central Sudan-(study of 314 cases)

Objective: The objective of this work is to study the patterns of head andneck malignancies (HNM) in central Sudan and to compare it with international published series.Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted at the Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Molecular Biology and Oncology (INMO)-University of Gezira; Wadmedani, Sudan. The data were collected through reviewing of patients records over 6 years. Parameters analyzed were age, sex, topography and tumor histology.Results: The total number of patients records reviewed was 314. Age distribution ranged from 11 to 90 years with mean age of 48.79 and median age of 50 years. The male to female ratio was 1.7:1. The most common affected sites in order of frequency were nasopharynx (41.1%), hypopharnx (20.4%), larynx (11.2%), oral cavity (10.5%), salivary glands (4.8%), lips (4.5%), tongue (4.1%) and paranasal sinuses (3.5%). The most common histological types were squamous cell carcinoma (90.77%) followed by salivary gland tumors and lymphomas.Conclusion: HNM are common in Sudan, affecting all age groups with predominance in males. Nasopharynx is the commonest site. Further studies for identification of possible risk factors are recommended. Population-based cancer registry is recommended to reflect on the epidemiology of cancer in Sudan. Keywords : Nasopharynx, oropharyngeal, squamous, carcinomas, epidemiology, snuffed tobacco. Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences Vol. 3 (2) 2008: pp. 105-108