Groher and Crary Chapter 4

Question 1

What is cancer?

Answer 1

abnormal and uncontrolled cell growth that forms extra, unwanted and potentially destructive tissue

Question 2

What is the proliferation of cell growth?

Answer 2

hyperplasia

Question 3

What are the primary risk factors for head and neck cancer (excluding nasopharyngeal cancer)?

Answer 3

tobacco and heavy alcohol use

Question 4

What are other high-risk factors for head and neck cancer?

Answer 4

human papillomavirus infection (HPV), poor oral hygiene, consumption of certain processed foods, radiation exposure and mechanical irritation

Question 5

What is metastasis?

Answer 5

the traveling of abnormal cancer cells to various places in the body where they grow and proliferate

Question 6

What is cachexia?

Answer 6

a state of ill health, malnutrition, and muscle wasting

Question 7

What percentage of individuals with head and neck cancer can demonstrate some degree of malnutrition?

Answer 7

30-50%

Question 8

What is the staging phase in evaluating cancer?

Answer 8

determining how far the cancer has spread

Question 9

Which system is used most often to stage cancer?

Answer 9

TNM (tumor-nodes-metastisis)

Question 10

TX

Answer 10

primary tumor cannot be assessed

Question 11

T0

Answer 11

no evidence of primary tumor

Question 12

Tis

Answer 12

carcinoma in situ

Question 13

T1

Answer 13

tumor 2 cm or less in greatest diameter

Question 14

T2

Answer 14

tumor between 2-4cm in greatest dimension

Question 15

T3

Answer 15

tumor more than 4cm in greatest diameter

Question 16

T4

Answer 16

tumor invades adjacent structures

Question 17

NX

Answer 17

regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed

Question 18

N0

Answer 18

no regional lymph node metastasis

Question 19

N1

Answer 19

metastasis in a single ipsilateral lymph node

Question 20

N2a

Answer 20

metastasis in a single ipsilateral lymph node between 3-6cm

Question 21

N2b

Answer 21

metastasis in multiple ipsilateral lymph nodes, none greater than 6cm

Question 22

N2c

Answer 22

in bilateral or contralateral lymph nodes, non more than 6 cm in greatest diameter

Question 23

N3

Answer 23

metastasis in lymph node more than 6 cm in greatest diameter

Question 24

MX

Answer 24

distant metastasis cannot be assessed

Question 25

M0

Answer 25

no distant metastasis

Question 26

What are the 3 primary options for treating cancer?

Answer 26

surgery, radiation, chemotherapy

Question 27

Which of the 3 primary cancer treatments is not considered “curative” and is only supplemental?

Answer 27

chemotherapy

Question 28

Which cancer treatment puts patients at a higher risk for swallowing difficulties?

Answer 28

radiation therapy

Question 29

What is the 50% rule?

Answer 29

in oral cancer, removal of less than 50% of a structure will NOT result in significant or permanent swallowing problems

Question 30

Why is the 50% considered out of date?

Answer 30

there are more surgical reconstructive technologies, such as “flaps”