CSO EXAM - CH 21 HN CANCER QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2025/2026
where do the majority of cancers occur for HN cancers? - - CORRECT ANSWER --90% are SCCa
what is incidence of HN cancers in comparison to all cancers? - - CORRECT ANSWER --3% of all
cancers
What are the two most important risk factors for HN cancer? - - CORRECT ANSWER --Etoh +
tobaccoo
*with exception of salivary and oropharyngael cancers*
Risk factors for salivary cancers - - CORRECT ANSWER --old age
radiation exposure
asbestos
Risk factor for oropharyngael cancer - - CORRECT ANSWER --HPV
Locations of HN cancer - - CORRECT ANSWER --Oral cavity = front 2/3 of
tongue salivary glands = parotid, sublingual, submandibular
paranasal sinuses
pharynx - oropharyngael, soft palate, BOT, tonsils
Larynx - vocal cords, epiglottis
LN -- if only spot on PET is HN LN than assumed met SCCa pf unkown primary
30-40% of pt w/ early localized disease have what kind of treatment? - - CORRECT ANSWER --
usually require only 1 modality (surgery or radiotherapy)
, early localized disease = stg I or stg II w/o LN
what percent of stg III and stg IV HN cancers require chemo/XRT? - - CORRECT ANSWER --60%
*require b/c of underlying structures or mets*
What areas of HN cancer are more likely to require EN? - - CORRECT ANSWER --floor of mouth +
BOT
XRT can exacerbate what? - - CORRECT ANSWER --tooth decay
XRT works best with rapidly dividing cells. What HN cancer would you consider to have rapidly
dividing cells? - - CORRECT ANSWER --Oral mucosa
What is a benefit of IMRT - - CORRECT ANSWER --more precise
dec long term toxiciites to oropharyngeal, paranasal sinus, nasopharyngeal areas
dec XRT to major structures such as salivary glands, temporal lobes, mandible, auditory, optic
What is common tx for HN cancer? - - CORRECT ANSWER --2.0 - 70 gy in 7 weeks w/ single
agent cisplatin q 3 weeks @ 100 mg/m2
*remember XRT has cumulative effect*
Chemo is std tx for what - - CORRECT ANSWER --locally advanced cancer --- XRT + cisplatin
what is used for induction chemo for HN? - - CORRECT ANSWER --FU + Cisplatin
*some evidence that docetaxel may increase response*
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2025/2026
where do the majority of cancers occur for HN cancers? - - CORRECT ANSWER --90% are SCCa
what is incidence of HN cancers in comparison to all cancers? - - CORRECT ANSWER --3% of all
cancers
What are the two most important risk factors for HN cancer? - - CORRECT ANSWER --Etoh +
tobaccoo
*with exception of salivary and oropharyngael cancers*
Risk factors for salivary cancers - - CORRECT ANSWER --old age
radiation exposure
asbestos
Risk factor for oropharyngael cancer - - CORRECT ANSWER --HPV
Locations of HN cancer - - CORRECT ANSWER --Oral cavity = front 2/3 of
tongue salivary glands = parotid, sublingual, submandibular
paranasal sinuses
pharynx - oropharyngael, soft palate, BOT, tonsils
Larynx - vocal cords, epiglottis
LN -- if only spot on PET is HN LN than assumed met SCCa pf unkown primary
30-40% of pt w/ early localized disease have what kind of treatment? - - CORRECT ANSWER --
usually require only 1 modality (surgery or radiotherapy)
, early localized disease = stg I or stg II w/o LN
what percent of stg III and stg IV HN cancers require chemo/XRT? - - CORRECT ANSWER --60%
*require b/c of underlying structures or mets*
What areas of HN cancer are more likely to require EN? - - CORRECT ANSWER --floor of mouth +
BOT
XRT can exacerbate what? - - CORRECT ANSWER --tooth decay
XRT works best with rapidly dividing cells. What HN cancer would you consider to have rapidly
dividing cells? - - CORRECT ANSWER --Oral mucosa
What is a benefit of IMRT - - CORRECT ANSWER --more precise
dec long term toxiciites to oropharyngeal, paranasal sinus, nasopharyngeal areas
dec XRT to major structures such as salivary glands, temporal lobes, mandible, auditory, optic
What is common tx for HN cancer? - - CORRECT ANSWER --2.0 - 70 gy in 7 weeks w/ single
agent cisplatin q 3 weeks @ 100 mg/m2
*remember XRT has cumulative effect*
Chemo is std tx for what - - CORRECT ANSWER --locally advanced cancer --- XRT + cisplatin
what is used for induction chemo for HN? - - CORRECT ANSWER --FU + Cisplatin
*some evidence that docetaxel may increase response*
