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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · South Asian J Cancer 2021; 10(04): 236-240
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1731131
Original Article: Head and Neck Cancer

Trend of Head and Neck Cancers in a National Tertiary Cancer Hospital of Nepal from 2012 to 2017

Gambhir Shrestha
1   Department of Community Medicine, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal
,
Bhola Siwakoti
2   Department of Cancer Prevention, Control and Research, B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal
,
Rashmi Mulmi
2   Department of Cancer Prevention, Control and Research, B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal
,
Dejkumar Gautam
3   ENT, Head and Neck Unit, Department of Surgical Oncology, B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal
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Abstract

Introduction Head and neck cancers (HNCs) are increasing in Nepal and have become a major public health issue. This study aims to describe the trend of HNCs in a national tertiary cancer hospital in Nepal.

Methods This was a cross-sectional study with secondary data analysis conducted at B.P Koirala Memorial Hospital, Chitwan, Nepal. The data were obtained from the medical record section and included all new HNC cases registered from 2012 to 2017. Analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 17. Subgroup analysis was done according to age, gender, site, and year.

Results A total of 4,582 new HNCs were registered, of which 3,097 (67.6%) were males and 1,482 (32.4%) were females. Lip and oral cavity cancers (46.5%) were the most common HNCs followed by tonsil and pharynx (18.0%) and larynx (15.8%). The trend of HNCs shows a steady rise in incidence with difference according to the sites. HNCs were more common among males than females except for thyroid cancer. The most common age group was 60 to 74 years.

Conclusions The trend of HNCs is increasing in Nepal especially oral cancers. Awareness of risk factors, effective screening programs, and comprehensive treatment should be focused to decrease the burden of HNCs.

Keywords

head and neck cancers - trend - Nepal


Publication History

Article published online:
31 December 2021

© 2021. MedIntel Services Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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