Objective: Incidence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma seems to be:
relatively high in Yemen but not well documented. The purpose of this study
is to analyze the clinical profile of the Yemeni patients of squamous cell
carcinoma of the head and neck and to evaluate the possible relationship t
o kath chewing.
Methods: With the help of a special protocol, all the patients of head and
neck squamous cell carcinoma seen between October 1997 and December 1998 at
the Ear, Nose and Throat and Dermatology Clinics of Saudi Hospital, Hajjah
, Yemen Republic were subjected to detailed analysis. The diagnosis was con
firmed by histopathologic studies in all the cases.
Results: All the 36 patients (23 male and 13 female) were Yemani nationals,
aged 18 to 80 years (median age 50 years). Thirty patients were Kath addic
ts. The tumor was localized to the oral cavity in 17 (47%) patients, oropha
rynx in 1 (3%) patient, nasopharynx in 15 (42%) patients and larynx in 3 (8
%) patients.
Conclusion: The incidence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma seems to
be relatively high, especially the oral squamous cell carcinoma, all of wh
om had a habit of kath chewing, which may be considered as an important con
tributing factor.