The incidence of head and neck cancers in the Republic of Suriname Between the years 1980 and 2004

Head and neck cancers comprise a heterogeneous group of mostly squamous cell carcinomas that arise in the mucosal surfaces of the upper aerodigestive tract and primarily affect the oral cavity (lips, front two-thirds of the tongue, gingivae, buccal mucosa, floor of the mouth, hard palate, and the small area behind the wisdom teeth); the salivary glands; the nasal cavity and the paranasal sinuses; the pharynx, i.e., nasopharynx (the upper part, behind the nose), oropharynx (the middle part, including soft palate, base of the tongue, and tonsils), and hypopharynx (the lower part); and the larynx [1].