prognosis of oropharyngeal cancer

Last edited 12/2018

Many variables need to be considered - tumour type, size, presence of neck metastases, age of patient etc.

Squamous cell carcinoma:

  • base of tongue tumours do worse than tonsillar tumours

Lymphoma:

  • 70% survival rate if confined to head and neck

84% of men survive oropharyngeal cancer for at least one year, and this is predicted to fall to 66% surviving for five years or more, as shown by age-standardised net survival for patients diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer during 2009-2013 in England. Survival for women is similar with 84% surviving for one year or more, and 66% predicted to survive for at least five years

Reference:

  1. CRUK. Head and Neck Cancer Survival Statistics (Accessed 27/12/18)

  2. NICE (November 2004). Improving outcomes in head and neck cancers - The Manual.