Retrospective analysis of head and neck cancer cases from the database of the Niigata Prefecture Head and Neck Malignant Tumor Registration Committee and Niigata University

Head and neck cancers includes oral, nasal and paranasal, nasopharyngeal, mesopharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, laryngeal, and salivary gland cancers, as well as cancers that involve the thyroid gland, ear, trachea, face, and neck. Epidemiological analysis of head and neck cancer cases in a single institution during a short period is extremely difficult because of its low incidence. We here assessed the epidemiology of head and neck cancer throughout Niigata Prefecture, and included changes in clinical features and treatment results from a single institution (Niigata University). A total of 8,572 cases were registered in the Niigata Prefecture Head and Neck Malignant Tumor Registration Committee database over 25 years, and the most common sites were larynx, followed by the oral cavity and thyroid gland. A tendency of an increasing number of cases and advanced patient ages was observed in head and neck cancer cases. In the Department of Otolaryngology, Niigata University School of Medicine, 1,288 cases of head and neck cancer were treated over a 20-year period. Data of Niigata University showed a predominance of hypopharyngeal, nasal and paranasal, mesopharyngeal, and ear cancer cases. The 5-year survival rates of tongue, oral floor, nasopharyungeal, hypopharyngeal cancer cases that underwent pharyngolaryngectomy and pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy, and stage IV laryngeal, and ear cancer cases that underwent surgery were excellent (73.8%, 58.9%, 71.2%, 58.5%, 67.2%, and 82.4%, respectively). Further analysis of the data of Niigata Prefecture and Niigata University is required to keep abreast of advances in head and neck cancer treatment. Introduction ‘Head and neck’ cancers are malignancies that occur above the shoulder with the exception of the intracranial and orbital regions. According to the “General Rules for Clinical Studies on Head and Neck Cancer” formulated by the Japan Society for Head and Neck Cancer, head and neck cancers occur in 7 regions: (1)the lips and oral cavity, (2)nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, (3) nasopharynx, (4)mesopharynx, (5)hypopharynx, (6)larynx, and (7)salivary glands [1]. However, other malignancies that occur in the thyroid gland, ear, trachea, face, and neck are also recognized as head and neck cancers. Clinical features of head and neck cancer include the following: (1)According to the scarce Retrospective analysis of head and neck cancer cases from the database of the Niigata Prefecture Head and Neck Malignant Tumor Registration Committee and Niigata University