Condition index · 12 topics · 168 answered questions

Head & Neck Cancer Conditions A–Z

Pick the tumour that matches your diagnosis, your symptom or the country you live in. Every topic has the same answer-first structure and a linked library of questions.

Quick answer

Head and neck cancer is a family of tumours, not one disease. Lip and oral cavity cancer is the largest group worldwide (389,846 cases in 2022), but the dominant tumour differs by region: HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer in North America and Northern Europe, oral cancer in South Asia, nasopharyngeal carcinoma in South-East Asia and North Africa, and UV-related lip cancer in Australia and New Zealand.

Head and neck cancer by subsite, worldwide 2022

Subsite	ICD	New cases	ASR /100,000	Main cause	High-incidence regions
Lip + oral cavity	C00–C06	389,846	4.0	Tobacco, areca nut, betel quid, alcohol; UV for lip	South-Central Asia, Melanesia, Southern Africa
Larynx	C32	189,191	1.9	Tobacco + heavy alcohol	Caribbean, Eastern & Southern Europe, South Asia
Nasopharynx	C11	120,434	1.3	EBV, genetics, childhood salt-preserved fish	South-East Asia, southern China, North Africa
Oropharynx	C01, C09–C10	106,400	1.1	Persistent HPV-16 infection (high-income countries)	North America, Northern/Western Europe, Australia/NZ
Hypopharynx	C12–C13	86,257	0.89	Tobacco + alcohol, iron deficiency, malnutrition	Eastern Europe, South-Central Asia
Salivary glands	C07–C08	55,083	0.56	Prior radiation, mixed/uncertain, autoimmune	Western & Central Africa (highest relative share)

GLOBOCAN 2022 estimates as summarised in the EMA nivolumab risk-management plan and the American Cancer Society Global Cancer Facts & Figures. ASR = age-standardised rate. See the full atlas with regional ASRs →

High-incidence tumours outside China

These are the six topics most relevant to patients in North America, Europe, South Asia, South-East Asia, North Africa and Oceania — the patterns that differ most from the Chinese disease mix.

HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer is a squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsils or base of tongue caused by persistent high-risk human papillomavirus,… United StatesNorthern EuropeUK 16 answered questionsRead topic → Oral Cavity Cancer Oral cavity cancer is a squamous cell carcinoma arising on the tongue, floor of mouth, buccal (cheek) mucosa, gums, hard palate or retromolar region. … IndiaSouth AsiaBangladesh 15 answered questionsRead topic → Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is an Epstein–Barr virus-associated cancer arising in the upper throat behind the nose. It is rare in most Western countries … SE AsiaNorth AfricaSouthern China 15 answered questionsRead topic → Laryngeal Cancer Laryngeal cancer is a squamous cell carcinoma of the voice box, usually arising on the vocal cords (glottic), above them (supraglottic) or below (subg… Eastern EuropeCuba/CaribbeanSpain 14 answered questionsRead topic → Hypopharyngeal Cancer Hypopharyngeal cancer arises in the lowest part of the throat, most often the pyriform sinus, beside and behind the voice box. It is uncommon worldwid… BangladeshEastern EuropeIndia 13 answered questionsRead topic → Thyroid Cancer Thyroid cancer is a malignancy of the thyroid gland in the front of the neck, most often papillary carcinoma. Incidence has risen sharply in South Kor… South KoreaUSAItaly 14 answered questionsRead topic →

All twelve topics

Lip Cancer Lip cancer is usually a squamous cell carcinoma of the dry red part of the lower lip, caused mainly by cumulative ultraviolet radiation. It is unusual… Australia/NZPapua New GuineaSouthern Europe 14 answered questionsRead topic → Skin Cancer of the Head and Neck Skin cancers of the head and neck are tumours arising on chronically sun-exposed skin — basal cell carcinoma, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and me… Australia/NZNorth AmericaEurope 14 answered questionsRead topic → Salivary Gland Tumours Salivary gland tumours are a diverse group of benign and malignant growths in the parotid, submandibular, sublingual and minor salivary glands. They a… West/Central AfricaRare tumourParotid 14 answered questionsRead topic → Sinonasal Cancer Sinonasal cancer is a rare group of tumours arising in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, including squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, mela… OccupationalEuropeWood dust 13 answered questionsRead topic → Head and Neck Cancer of Unknown Primary Head and neck cancer of unknown primary means a malignant cervical lymph node is found but no primary tumour can be seen after the initial examination… Neck lumpHPV p16North America 13 answered questionsRead topic → Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders Oral potentially malignant disorders are chronic mucosal changes — white patches (leukoplakia), red patches (erythroplakia), oral submucous fibrosis a… South AsiaAreca nutLeukoplakia 13 answered questionsRead topic →

Quick questions about the condition index

What are the main types of head and neck cancer?

The main subsites are the lip and oral cavity, oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, salivary glands, nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, thyroid, and the skin of the head and neck. Each has different causes, treatments and prognosis.

Which head and neck cancer is most common worldwide?

Lip and oral cavity cancer, with 389,846 new cases in GLOBOCAN 2022 (ASR 4.0 per 100,000), followed by laryngeal cancer (189,191) and nasopharyngeal cancer (120,434).

Does the tumour type depend on the country?

Yes. Local exposures — HPV, tobacco and areca nut, alcohol, ultraviolet radiation, EBV, diet and occupational dusts — produce very different incidence maps. See the global atlas for the region-by-region breakdown.

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Medical disclaimer: This knowledge base is general information for people researching head and neck tumours, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. It does not replace an examination by a qualified physician. Survival figures are population averages, not predictions for an individual. Treatment and cost estimates for China are illustrative only and must be confirmed in writing after your records have been reviewed. If you have a symptom lasting more than two to three weeks, see a doctor promptly.