Asian ancestry, particularly Chinese ancestry, is a risk factor for nasopharyngeal cancer ( 17, 18). Infection with the Epstein-Barr virus is a risk factor for nasopharyngeal cancer ( 27) and cancer of the salivary glands ( 28, 29).Īncestry. Radiation to the head and neck, for noncancerous conditions or cancer, is a risk factor for cancer of the salivary glands ( 24– 26).Įpstein-Barr virus infection. Industrial exposure to wood dust, nickel dust, or formaldehyde is a risk factor for cancers of the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity ( 21– 23). People working in certain jobs in the construction, metal, textile, ceramic, logging, and food industries may have an increased risk of cancer of the voice box ( 20). Certain industrial exposures, including exposures to asbestos and synthetic fibers, have been associated with cancer of the voice box, but the increase in risk remains controversial ( 19). Occupational exposure to wood dust is a risk factor for nasopharyngeal cancer ( 17, 18). The use of paan (betel quid) in the mouth, a common custom in Southeast Asia, is strongly associated with an increased risk of mouth cancers ( 15, 16). Other known risk factors for specific cancers of the head and neck include the following: The reasons for this are poorly understood. Although HPV can be detected in other head and neck cancers, it appears to be the cause of cancer formation only in the oropharynx. About three-quarters of all oropharyngeal cancers are caused by chronic HPV infection ( 13, 14). In the United States, the incidence of oropharyngeal cancers caused by HPV infection is increasing, while the incidence of oropharyngeal cancers related to other causes is falling ( 10). Infection with cancer-causing types of human papillomavirus (HPV), especially HPV type 16, is a risk factor for oropharyngeal cancers that involve the tonsils or the base of the tongue ( 10– 12). Most head and neck squamous cell carcinomas of the mouth and voice box are caused by tobacco and alcohol use ( 8). People who use both tobacco and alcohol are at greater risk of developing these cancers than people who use either tobacco or alcohol alone ( 8, 9). Minor salivary glands are located throughout the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat.Īlcohol and tobacco use (including secondhand smoke and smokeless tobacco, sometimes called “chewing tobacco” or “snuff”) are the two most important risk factors for head and neck cancers, especially cancers of the oral cavity, hypopharynx, and voice box ( 3– 7). Salivary glands: The major salivary glands are in the floor of the mouth and near the jawbone. The nasal cavity is the hollow space inside the nose. Paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity: The paranasal sinuses are small hollow spaces in the bones of the head surrounding the nose. It also has a small piece of tissue, called the epiglottis, which moves to cover the voice box to prevent food from entering the air passages. Voice box (larynx): The voice box is a short passageway formed by cartilage just below the pharynx in the neck. It has three parts: the nasopharynx (the upper part of the pharynx, behind the nose) the oropharynx (the middle part of the pharynx, including the soft palate, the base of the tongue, and the tonsils) the hypopharynx (the lower part of the pharynx). Throat (pharynx): The pharynx is a hollow tube about 5 inches long that starts behind the nose and leads to the esophagus. Oral cavity: Includes the lips, the front two-thirds of the tongue, the gums, the lining inside the cheeks and lips, the floor (bottom) of the mouth under the tongue, the hard palate (bony top of the mouth), and the small area of the gum behind the wisdom teeth. Cancers of the head and neck can form in the:

14 different nose shapes