Cancers arising from the head and neck region commonly are squamous cell carcinomas.
These tumors can be discovered relatively early and therefore are highly curable either by surgery or radiation therapy. The selection of the treatment methods depends on the extent and location of the original tumors and neck nodal spread, the physical health of the patients, the expertise of the surgeons and radiation oncologists and the availability of treatment equipment and techniques, and others. In general the early tumors are best suited for radiation therapy, and the advanced tumors are often treated by combination of surgery and radiation. For the large tumors, combined surgery and radiation is preferred and can offer the patients a good chance of survival. Cancers of the tonsil and tongue base These tumors generally present difficulties for surgery due to their strategic location and radical resection may result functional and cosmetic mutilation.