Abstract
Purpose of review: Transplant recipients have an increased incidence of cancer compared with the general population. Head and neck sites are involved in more than 50% of patients, and as a result the otolaryngologist should be familiar with the diagnosis and management of posttransplant malignancies. Recent findings: Skin cancer is the most common malignancy encountered in the transplant population, and in areas of high sun exposure, as many as 80% of patients are affected. Patients who undergo liver transplantation for alcoholic cirrhosis appear to be at particularly increased risk for developing posttransplant malignancy of the head and neck. A number of uncommon malignancies such as Kaposi's sarcoma occur with a greatly increased incidence in transplant recipients. Malignancy in this patient population tends to present at a younger age compared with the general population, with a more aggressive course and poorer outcomes reported. Summary: A high index of suspicion may reduce morbidity and mortality through early detection of malignant disease in the transplant recipient.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 122-126 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Current Opinion in Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 1 2004 |
Keywords
- Head and neck cancer
- Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease
- Skin cancer
- Squamous cell cancer
- Transplantation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
- Otorhinolaryngology