Induction Chemotherapy: Hope or Hype in Head & Neck Cancer - An Audit from Institute of National Importance in Western Rajasthan & Review of Literature

Head and Neck Cancers (HNCs) are malignant tumours of the upper aerodigestive tract which includes subsites as the oral cavity, nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) constitutes for >90% of HNCs. The primary risk factors which contribute to incidence of head and neck carcinoma include use of tobacco, alcohol consumption, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection (mainly causes oropharyngeal cancer), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection (for nasopharyngeal cancer). When the upper aerodigestive tract is chronically exposed to these carcinogenic factors, it can result in premalignant changes in the oropharyngeal mucosa and ultimately result in the development of cancer.