What is the oropharynx?
The oropharynx is the
middle part of the pharynx (throat). The pharynx is a hollow tube
that begins behind the nose and goes down to the neck, becoming
part of the tube that extends into the stomach (esophagus). The
oropharynx includes the base of the tongue, the tonsils, the soft
palate (back of the mouth), and the walls of the pharynx.
What is oropharyngeal cancer?
Oropharyngeal cancer
is a disease in which cancer cells are found within the anatomical
borders of the oropharynx. The majority of oropharyngeal cancers
are squamous cell carcinomas.
What are the symptoms of oropharyngeal cancer?
The
following might be signs of oropharyngeal cancer or of other
conditions. See a doctor if any of the following symptoms are
present:
- A sore throat that persists
- Pain or difficulty with swallowing
- Unexplained weight loss
- Voice changes
- Ear pain
- A lump in the back of the throat or mouth
- A lump in the neck
What are the risk factors for oropharyngeal cancer?
Risk factors for oropharyngeal cancer include the following:
- Use of alcohol
- Use of tobacco
- Being infected with the human papilloma virus (HPV), especially
HPV-type-16 (HPV-16)
How is oropharyngeal cancer diagnosed?
A doctor can
diagnose oropharyngeal cancer by examining the throat. The doctor
will use a mirror and lights to look at the throat and will feel
the neck for masses. If the doctor finds abnormal tissue, he or she
will obtain a piece of tissue in a procedure called a biopsy. The
tissue will be checked for cancer cells.
What are the stages of oropharyngeal cancer?
The
stages of oropharyngeal cancer span from Stage 0 to Stage IV. In
Stage 0, cancer is found only in the cells that line the
oropharynx. Additional stages are described as follows:
Stage I
The cancer is 2 centimeters or smaller and
has not spread outside the oropharynx.
Stage II
The cancer is larger than 2 centimeters,
but not larger than 4 centimeters and has not spread outside the
oropharynx.
Stage III
In this stage, cancer is larger than 4
centimeters and has not spread outside the oropharynx. An alternate
form of this stage is that cancer is any size and has spread to
only one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the cancer. The
lymph node that contains cancer is 3 centimeters or smaller.
Stage IV
This stage contains the sub-stages of IVA,
IVB and IVC.