Head and Neck Cancer Diagnosis

When we’re able to diagnose head and neck cancer at an early stage, we’re able to treat it more effectively. Early—and accurate—diagnosis means better outcomes for our patients.

What Are Head and Neck Cancer Symptoms?

The signs of head and neck cancer are similar to signs of many other conditions. And in most cases, they do not indicate cancer. But if you experience any of these symptoms—and they don’t go away—you should see an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist.

Signs of head and neck cancer may include:

• Lump in throat or neck
• Pain or difficulty swallowing
• Persistent sore throat
• Red or white patch on your gums, tongue or tonsils
• Voice changes

How Is Head and Neck Cancer Diagnosed?

Our head and neck cancer specialists work closely with ENTs (ear, nose and throat specialists, also called otolaryngologists). In most cases, a patient’s ENT refers them to us for closer examination, testing and diagnosis.

To accurately diagnose head and neck cancers at the earliest possible stage, we use:

• Comprehensive physical exam: Our head and neck specialists start with a full head and neck exam, looking for anything unusual in your mouth or swollen lymph nodes in your throat. They may also use a laryngoscope (a thin, flexible tube) to better view your throat and larynx.
• Biopsy: If your doctor sees a suspicious area, they will remove a sample of tissue to test. A biopsy is the only way to accurately determine if cancer cells are present.
• Imaging tests: We use imaging tests, such as X-ray, CT scan, MRI or PET scan, to get a closer look at areas that might have cancer. We may do these tests after a biopsy finds cancer cells. Imaging tests help us see if the cancer has spread to other areas of the body.

Staging for Head and Neck Cancers

All types of head and neck cancers are staged from 0 to 4, depending on how much the cancer has grown or spread. Stage 0 cancer is noninvasive and hasn’t spread beyond where it started. Stage 4 means it has spread the most. But for many types of head and neck cancer, a diagnosis of stage 4 may still be curable.

Your doctor may also use the following terms to describe the cancer stage:

• Local means the tumor has not spread beyond where it developed.
• Locally advanced means that the tumor has spread slightly, such as to nearby lymph nodes.
• Metastatic means it has spread to other parts of the body.
• Systemic means it has spread throughout the body.

Request an Appointment

To make an appointment at the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute, call 717-544-9400 or request an appointment using our online form.