Head and neck cancer in pregnancy

Abstract

Worldwide there are over half a million new cases of head and neck cancer (HNC) diagnosed every year [1]. Cancer during pregnancy is defined as a new cancer diagnosis during pregnancy or in the first year postpartum [2]. Incidence of cancer during pregnancy is around 0.02-0.1% of all pregnancies [3]. The most common invasive cancers arising during pregnancy are breast, skin, hematologic, cervix/uterus, and thyroid [4]. The most common pregnancy HNCs are larynx, melanoma, lymphoma, and oral cavity [5]. Recently, there has been an increase in incidence of head and neck cancers during the past two decades [6]. Tendency for women to delay pregnancy until later reproductive years may account for this increasing trend.