Cancers presenting in the head and neck during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this review is to document the information reported on cancers presenting in the head and neck area during pregnancy.


RESULTS
Accidents and cancer account for most deaths during the reproductive years. Cancer complicates approximately 0.1% of all pregnancies and, in order of frequency, the incidence of cancers by site are breast, melanoma, thyroid, cervix, lymphoma, and ovary. Some of these cancers may present in the head and neck region, as well as more uncommon cancers such as mucosal squamous cell carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
It is recognized that with the dramatic rise in births among "reproductively" older women and with the changing epidemiology of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in nonsmoking and nonalcohol-drinking women, there is to be expected an increased incidence and presentation. Management of such patients must consider the gestational age of the pregnancy and must include alternatives to current treatments to accommodate the individual's wishes regarding her pregnancy.
Bradley
Patrick J
PJ
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK. pjb@qmctrust.org.uk
Raghavan
Ullas
U
D000768:Anesthesia, General; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy