Head and neck cancer is a collective term to describe malignant tumors of the aerodigestive tract, from the cervical esophagus through the nasal cavity, paranasal sinus and nasopharynx. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common primary neoplasm in the head and neck, accounting for 90% of cancers arising in this region. The majority occur in the oral cavity, followed by the pharynx and larynx. Lymphoma is the second most common tumor of the head and neck: with nodal involvement most common and due to Hodgkins disease, and extranodal involvement less frequent and due to non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Aggressive appearing lesions within the aerodigestive tract should be assumed to be squamous cell carcinoma (or a subtype) with biopsy necessary for definitive diagnosis.

Site-Specific Differential Diagnosis of Head and Neck Cancer

Tonsil/Oropharynx