Diagnosis of Head and Neck Cancer

 let's see how Head and Neck Cancer is diagnosed, since early and correct diagnosis is the clue to proper treatment.

 Dental and Oral Checkup

Most times, the initial symptoms of head and neck cancer manifest in the mouth, tongue, or throat. A good dental checkup identifies any abnormal lesions, ulcers, or swelling that don't heal — particularly if they last for over 2–3 weeks.

Blood Tests – Complete Blood Profile

A complete blood panel provides an overview of what's going on inside the body. We usually screen:

CBC (Complete Blood Count) – to rule out anemia or infection

LFT (Liver Function Test) and KFT (Kidney Function Test) – to check organ function prior to initiating treatment

Lipid Profile – for general metabolic well-being

Thyroid Function (TFT) – since thyroid imbalance may mask or enhance symptoms

Vitamin B12, C, D – deficiencies reduce immunity and lead to fatigue

Iron Studies and ESR – to identify covert inflammation or chronic disease

Sugar Profile

We also measure blood sugar with tests such as fasting glucose, postprandial sugar, insulin, and HbA1c.

Why is that? Because if diabetes is not controlled, cancer treatment may become complicated.

In suspected cancers of the throat or mouth,

HPV testing- HPV testing i is important — particularly HPV-16, which is highly associated with oropharyngeal cancers.

Imaging Scans

CT (Computed Tomography) scans enable us to see the tumor and the structures around it.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) provides high-quality soft tissue contrast, perfect for head, brain, or neck involvement.

PET-CT combines anatomical and metabolic imaging — it's especially handy in finding metastasis or cancer spread.

5. Nasopharyngoscopy and Laryngoscopy

These are low-intervention procedures where a thin, flexible tube with a camera is passed through the nose or mouth.

It allows us to see directly the nasal passages, pharynx, larynx, and vocal cords to seek out tumors, swelling, or vocal cord movement abnormalities.

6. Biopsy- A biopsy finally diagnoses cancer. Various techniques are:

FNAC (Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology) – best for lymph node sampling

Core Needle Biopsy – provides more tissue sample for detailed examination

Incisional Biopsy – wherein a small portion of the tumor is excised

Excisional Biopsy – in which the whole suspicious lesion is excised, if small

All these investigations trace the location, size, stage, and type of cancer and enable the medical team to devise the best treatment strategy for the patient.

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