Trends in investigations for suspected Head and Neck Carcinoma of the Unknown Primary: A HNCIG and IFHNOS International Survey of Practice

Andrew Williamson; Paul Nankivell; Ahmad Abou-Foul; Mohamed Ahmed; Hisham Mehanna

doi:10.1002/hed.28065

Trends in investigations for suspected Head and Neck Carcinoma of the Unknown Primary: A HNCIG and IFHNOS International Survey of Practice

Andrew Williamson^*
, Paul Nankivell^*
, Ahmad Abou-Foul
, Mohamed Ahmed
, Hisham Mehanna

^*Corresponding author for this work

Cancer and Genomic Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background
The aim of this clinical survey was to assess variations in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma from an unknown primary (HNSCCUP) diagnostic practices across international centers.

Methods
Clinical practice survey of experts nominated by Head and Neck Cancer International Group (HNCIG) and International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies (IFHNOS).

Results
Responses were received from 48/49 (97.9%) participants. Outpatient laryngoscopy, CT, and 18-FDG-PETCT were used always or most of the time by 81.3%, 77.1%, and 79.2%, but only 50% regularly used MRI. Unilateral and bilateral tonsillectomy were frequently performed in 41.6% and 27.1% of unilateral nodal disease, and in 18.8% and 52.1% for bilateral disease. Ipsilateral Tongue Base Mucosectomy (TBM) was used always or most of the time in 12.5% of unilateral and 6.3% of bilateral HNSCCUP. Bilateral TBM was used in 10.4% for unilateral and 22.9% for bilateral cancers.

Conclusions
While there is broad agreement regarding examination and cross-sectional imaging, there are considerable differences in the surgical strategies used to identify occult primaries.

Original language	English
Number of pages	9
Journal	Head & Neck
Early online date	9 Jan 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.28065
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 9 Jan 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

linical practice survey
human papilloma virus
positron emission tomography computed tomography
tongue base mucosectomy
unknown primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

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This is the peer reviewed version an article to be published in final form in Head and Neck: final published version will be available at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10970347. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.
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Cite this

@article{e5cec6c1e95740aca0b7c972399cd840,

title = "Trends in investigations for suspected Head and Neck Carcinoma of the Unknown Primary: A HNCIG and IFHNOS International Survey of Practice",

abstract = "Background The aim of this clinical survey was to assess variations in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma from an unknown primary (HNSCCUP) diagnostic practices across international centers. Methods Clinical practice survey of experts nominated by Head and Neck Cancer International Group (HNCIG) and International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies (IFHNOS). Results Responses were received from 48/49 (97.9\%) participants. Outpatient laryngoscopy, CT, and 18-FDG-PETCT were used always or most of the time by 81.3\%, 77.1\%, and 79.2\%, but only 50\% regularly used MRI. Unilateral and bilateral tonsillectomy were frequently performed in 41.6\% and 27.1\% of unilateral nodal disease, and in 18.8\% and 52.1\% for bilateral disease. Ipsilateral Tongue Base Mucosectomy (TBM) was used always or most of the time in 12.5\% of unilateral and 6.3\% of bilateral HNSCCUP. Bilateral TBM was used in 10.4\% for unilateral and 22.9\% for bilateral cancers. Conclusions While there is broad agreement regarding examination and cross-sectional imaging, there are considerable differences in the surgical strategies used to identify occult primaries.",

keywords = "linical practice survey, human papilloma virus, positron emission tomography computed tomography, tongue base mucosectomy, unknown primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma",

author = "Andrew Williamson and Paul Nankivell and Ahmad Abou-Foul and Mohamed Ahmed and Hisham Mehanna",

year = "2025",

month = jan,

day = "9",

doi = "10.1002/hed.28065",

language = "English",

journal = "Head \& Neck",

issn = "1043-3074",

publisher = "Wiley",

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T1 - Trends in investigations for suspected Head and Neck Carcinoma of the Unknown Primary

T2 - A HNCIG and IFHNOS International Survey of Practice

AU - Williamson, Andrew

AU - Nankivell, Paul

AU - Abou-Foul, Ahmad

AU - Ahmed, Mohamed

AU - Mehanna, Hisham

PY - 2025/1/9

Y1 - 2025/1/9

N2 - Background The aim of this clinical survey was to assess variations in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma from an unknown primary (HNSCCUP) diagnostic practices across international centers. Methods Clinical practice survey of experts nominated by Head and Neck Cancer International Group (HNCIG) and International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies (IFHNOS). Results Responses were received from 48/49 (97.9%) participants. Outpatient laryngoscopy, CT, and 18-FDG-PETCT were used always or most of the time by 81.3%, 77.1%, and 79.2%, but only 50% regularly used MRI. Unilateral and bilateral tonsillectomy were frequently performed in 41.6% and 27.1% of unilateral nodal disease, and in 18.8% and 52.1% for bilateral disease. Ipsilateral Tongue Base Mucosectomy (TBM) was used always or most of the time in 12.5% of unilateral and 6.3% of bilateral HNSCCUP. Bilateral TBM was used in 10.4% for unilateral and 22.9% for bilateral cancers. Conclusions While there is broad agreement regarding examination and cross-sectional imaging, there are considerable differences in the surgical strategies used to identify occult primaries.

AB - Background The aim of this clinical survey was to assess variations in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma from an unknown primary (HNSCCUP) diagnostic practices across international centers. Methods Clinical practice survey of experts nominated by Head and Neck Cancer International Group (HNCIG) and International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies (IFHNOS). Results Responses were received from 48/49 (97.9%) participants. Outpatient laryngoscopy, CT, and 18-FDG-PETCT were used always or most of the time by 81.3%, 77.1%, and 79.2%, but only 50% regularly used MRI. Unilateral and bilateral tonsillectomy were frequently performed in 41.6% and 27.1% of unilateral nodal disease, and in 18.8% and 52.1% for bilateral disease. Ipsilateral Tongue Base Mucosectomy (TBM) was used always or most of the time in 12.5% of unilateral and 6.3% of bilateral HNSCCUP. Bilateral TBM was used in 10.4% for unilateral and 22.9% for bilateral cancers. Conclusions While there is broad agreement regarding examination and cross-sectional imaging, there are considerable differences in the surgical strategies used to identify occult primaries.

KW - linical practice survey

KW - human papilloma virus

KW - positron emission tomography computed tomography

KW - tongue base mucosectomy

KW - unknown primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

U2 - 10.1002/hed.28065

DO - 10.1002/hed.28065

M3 - Article

SN - 1043-3074

JO - Head & Neck

JF - Head & Neck

ER -

Trends in investigations for suspected Head and Neck Carcinoma of the Unknown Primary: A HNCIG and IFHNOS International Survey of Practice

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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