Current opinion in oncology
-
Review
Multidisciplinary approaches in the management of advanced head and neck tumors: state of the art.
Head and neck cancer remains a significant cause of morbidity worldwide, with approximately 400,000 new cases per year. Ongoing advances in multidisciplinary management of this complex and multivaried disease process are resulting in improved function, quality of life, and survival. This review presents selected advances in primary research in head and neck cancer during the year 2003. ⋯ Head and neck cancer represents a collection of diseases that, although seemingly united by location and histology, on closer inspection represent a diverse collection of subcategories that often differ in pathogenesis, tumor biology, sublocation within the head and neck region, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and effect on quality of life. Given this complexity, it is not surprising that clinical management is also complicated and requires a cooperative effort among multiple subspecialties. This review of the current standard of care for patients with head and neck cancer aims to assist this diverse group of practitioners in caring for this complex group of patients.