title: Infections following surgery for head and neck cancer.
abstract: Cancer of the head and neck area disturbs the balance between the bacterial organisms of the area and the host-defense mechanisms. The very nature of treatment of this cancer predisposes patients to infection. An awareness of the multiplicity of factors that lead to these complications and the understanding of the various defense mechanisms of the host provide the basis for a rational approach to the successful treatment of these patients.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000917:Antibody Formation; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000528:radiation effects; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000276:immunology; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000502:physiology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins