What Percent of Neck Biopsies Are Cancer? Lymph Node Biopsy

What Percent of Neck Biopsies Are Cancer? Lymph Node Biopsy [the_ad id=”28610″]

Nearly 75 percent of lateral neck biopsies done in patients older than 40 years of age are cancerous.

Most neck masses are noncancerous, but persistent, continuously growing neck mass requires a neck biopsy. Nearly 75 percent of lateral neck biopsies done in patients older than 40 years of age are cancerous. This is because only suspicious neck masses are biopsied.

The incidence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma globally is 550,000 cases, accounting for five percent of new cases of cancer.

Squamous cell carcinomas account for most head and neck malignancies. This cancer starts in the flat squamous cells that make up the thin layer of tissue on the surface of the structures in the head and neck.

What is a neck biopsy?

A biopsy is performed by removing a sample of the tissue from the neck lump. A pathologist (a professional doctor) examines this piece of tissue under a microscope to establish a diagnosis.

A biopsy may be recommended by the doctor to determine whether the patient has cancer or what type of cancer it is.
Different types of biopsies can be performed, and the type of biopsy is determined by the patient’s medical history and the location of the tumor.

What are the causes of a neck mass?

Non-cancerous causes of a neck mass include:

Adults with cancerous neck tumors are mostly caused by head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Other malignancies that can produce a neck tumor include:

Tobacco use and alcohol consumption are the two leading causes of malignancies of the mouth, throat, larynx, and tongue. A human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is another major risk factor for malignancies of the neck, throat, and mouth. In most cases, HPV infection is transmitted sexually. “Oral HPV” refers to HPV discovered in the mouth and throat. Some kinds of high-risk oral HPV infections can lead to head and neck cancer.

Because of the rise in HPV infections, there has been an increase in HNSCC of the tonsil and base of the tongue. HPV-related malignancies frequently lack the conventional risk factors of tobacco and alcohol use, and they disproportionately afflict young individuals.

19 signs and symptoms of a cancerous neck mass

The following symptoms or indicators are common in people with head and neck cancer:

Non-healing sore or swelling around chin and neck area
Nausea
Fatigue
Lump in the neck with or without pain
Fever of unknown origin
Rashes
Persistent sore throat
Change in voice or hoarseness
Blood in saliva and mucus discharge from the respiratory passage
Pain and swelling around the jaw
Difficulty breathing
Pain with swallowing
Pain in teeth and issues with dentures
Red or white patch in the mouth
Bad odor of mouth
Numbness of regions in the neck
Unexplained weight loss
Ear pain or infection
Double vision

Medically Reviewed on 4/6/2022

References

Image Source: iStock Images

American Society of Clinical Oncology. Head and Neck Cancer. https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/head-and-neck-cancer/introduction

Adeel M, Jackson R, Peachey T, Beasley N. Ultrasound core biopsies of neck lumps: an experience from a tertiary head and neck cancer unit. J Laryngol Otol. 2021 Sep;135(9):799-803. doi: 10.1017/S0022215121001833.

American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery. Neck Mass in Adults: Guideline for Evaluation Provides Framework for Timely Diagnosis. https://www.entnet.org/resource/aao-hnsf-updated-cpg-neck-mass-press-release-fact-sheet/

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