title: Posterior pharyngeal wall squamous cell carcinoma arising in a patient with dyskeratosis congenita.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dyskeratosis congenita is a rare, inherited bone marrow failure syndrome characterised by telomerase dysfunction. This study aimed to demonstrate the importance of recognising that this condition predisposes individuals to head and neck malignancy, and also to discuss the challenges of treatment in such individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present the case of a 30-year-old man with dyskeratosis congenita, who presented with a squamous cell carcinoma of the posterior pharyngeal wall. The patient was treated successfully with surgical resection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dyskeratosis congenita is a rare condition; however, it is vital to recognise the increased risk of upper aerodigestive tract cancers in these patients. Management of such cancers can be particularly difficult in view of the need to avoid DNA-damaging therapies such as radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Qureishi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lamyman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cox
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D019871:Dyskeratosis Congenita / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012307:Risk Factors; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck