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PET/CT & Head and Neck Cancer
Head and neck cancer is the generic term given to cancers that begin in the
head and neck region of a person’s body. Head and neck cancers include cancers
that begin in the:
- Pharynx (throat)
- Oral cavity (mouth)
- The sinuses (spaces around the nose,)
- The nasal cavity (the passage behind the nose)
- The larynx (voice box)
- The salivary glands (glands that make saliva)
There are many types of head and neck cancer and these include the following:
- Cancer of the hypopharynx
Head and neck cancer where the cancer cells are found in bottom part of the
throat (the hypopharynx)
- Cancer of the nasopharynx
Head and neck cancer where the cancer cells are found in upper part of the
throat (the nasopharynx)
Head and neck cancer where the cancer cells are found in the middle part of
the throat (the oropharynx)
- Cancer of the paranasal sinus and nasal cavity.
Head and neck cancer where the cancer cells are found in the tissues in the
small hollow spaces around the nose (the paranasal sinus and nasal cavity).
Head and neck cancer where the cancer cells are found in the in the parathyroid
gland. This gland is at the base of the neck, near the thyroid gland
· Cancer of the salivary gland
Head and neck cancer where the cancer cells are found in the salivary glands
- Metastatic squamous neck cancer with occult primary.
In this type of head and neck cancer, squamous cell cancer has spread to the
lymph nodes in the neck.
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