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Carcinoma/Undifferentiated Tumor

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Pediatric Head and Neck Tumors

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Abstract

Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck, including carcinomas of the lip, oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, and sinus, are common malignancies among adults, often associated with tobacco and alcohol use. However, these tumors are exceedingly rare in children. When they do occur in the pediatric age group, predisposing factors such as Fanconi anemia must be considered. Outcomes appear similar to those in adults, and management, therefore, relies on established treatment strategies in adults. Early-stage disease can generally be treated with either surgery or radiation; choice of modality depends on resectability as well as expected functional outcome. For patients with advanced disease, chemotherapy improves outcomes over local control alone. Especially after radiation therapy, children tend to experience significant acute toxicity and late effects.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA

    Jennifer W. Mack MD, MPH

  2. Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Jennifer W. Mack MD, MPH

Authors
  1. Jennifer W. Mack MD, MPH
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Correspondence to Jennifer W. Mack MD, MPH .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Reza Rahbar

  2. Harvard Medica School, Dana-Farber/Boston Childrens Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo

  3. Department of Plastic Surgery, Harvard Medical School Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    John G. Meara

  4. Department of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Edward R. Smith

  5. Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Antonio R. Perez-Atayde

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Mack, J. (2014). Carcinoma/Undifferentiated Tumor. In: Rahbar, R., Rodriguez-Galindo, C., Meara, J., Smith, E., Perez-Atayde, A. (eds) Pediatric Head and Neck Tumors. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8755-5_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8755-5_10

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-8754-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-8755-5

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