Follow up of Patients with Head and Neck Cancers in Jos, North- Central Nigeria

Abstract

treated for head and neck cancers in our region. Method: A sixty-five months retrospective cross-sectional study at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, North-central Nigeria. Results: Twenty-eight (24.3%) patients aged between 20 and 88 years (mean= 54 years) presented with histologically diagnosed head and neck cancers. Nineteen were males and 9 females (male to female ratio 2.1:1). Nine (32.1%) presented with laryngeal cancer, 8 (28.5%) patients with nasopharyngeal cancer. Others were oropharyngeal cancer= 4; 14.3%, ethmoidal sinus cancer= 1; 3.6%, parotid cancer= 1; 3.6% and nasomaxillary cancer= 5; 17.9%. Six (21.4%) patients attended follow up clinics following treatment. The duration of follow up ranged from 3 weeks to 23 months (mean= 11.5 months) during which 2 (7.1%) patients had recurrent tumors. There were no detected cervical lymph node recurrences. Conclusion: Adequate public health education on the prevention of cancer, early detection of symptoms, early presentation to hospitals, treatment, follows up and rehabilitation is pivotal in improving the overall outcome of HNC.