ENT Liu Knowledge Base Head & neck tumours · physician reviewed
Physician-reviewed knowledge base · updated 8 November 2026

Which head and neck tumours are common where you live — and what to do about them

Evidence-based answers on head and neck tumours for patients outside China. 206 pages, 168 individually answered questions, 14 practical guides, and every statistic linked to a primary source.

Browse conditions A–Z Explore the global atlas Treatment in China

Written for patients outside China. English-language, answer-first, and structured so both people and AI answer engines can use it.

Quick answer

Head and neck cancer is not one disease: which tumour is common depends on where you live. HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer dominates in North America and Northern Europe, oral cavity cancer in South Asia, nasopharyngeal carcinoma in South-East Asia and North Africa, and UV-related lip cancer in Australia and New Zealand. This knowledge base answers the questions patients ask about each of them.

947,211head & neck cancer cases worldwide, GLOBOCAN 2022
12tumour topics, each with regional incidence data
168standalone answered questions, one per page
25primary sources, listed and linked

Start with your diagnosis or your country

All 12 topics →

Each topic follows the same structure: a 60-word quick answer, where in the world the tumour is common, risk factors, signs, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, prevention, treatment options in China, and a question library grouped by theme — the same Q&A model used on liuyishi.com.

HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer is a squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsils or base of tongue caused by persistent high-risk human papillomavirus,… United StatesNorthern EuropeUK 16 answered questionsRead topic → Oral Cavity Cancer Oral cavity cancer is a squamous cell carcinoma arising on the tongue, floor of mouth, buccal (cheek) mucosa, gums, hard palate or retromolar region. … IndiaSouth AsiaBangladesh 15 answered questionsRead topic → Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is an Epstein–Barr virus-associated cancer arising in the upper throat behind the nose. It is rare in most Western countries … SE AsiaNorth AfricaSouthern China 15 answered questionsRead topic → Laryngeal Cancer Laryngeal cancer is a squamous cell carcinoma of the voice box, usually arising on the vocal cords (glottic), above them (supraglottic) or below (subg… Eastern EuropeCuba/CaribbeanSpain 14 answered questionsRead topic → Hypopharyngeal Cancer Hypopharyngeal cancer arises in the lowest part of the throat, most often the pyriform sinus, beside and behind the voice box. It is uncommon worldwid… BangladeshEastern EuropeIndia 13 answered questionsRead topic → Thyroid Cancer Thyroid cancer is a malignancy of the thyroid gland in the front of the neck, most often papillary carcinoma. Incidence has risen sharply in South Kor… South KoreaUSAItaly 14 answered questionsRead topic → Lip Cancer Lip cancer is usually a squamous cell carcinoma of the dry red part of the lower lip, caused mainly by cumulative ultraviolet radiation. It is unusual… Australia/NZPapua New GuineaSouthern Europe 14 answered questionsRead topic → Skin Cancer of the Head and Neck Skin cancers of the head and neck are tumours arising on chronically sun-exposed skin — basal cell carcinoma, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and me… Australia/NZNorth AmericaEurope 14 answered questionsRead topic → Salivary Gland Tumours Salivary gland tumours are a diverse group of benign and malignant growths in the parotid, submandibular, sublingual and minor salivary glands. They a… West/Central AfricaRare tumourParotid 14 answered questionsRead topic → Sinonasal Cancer Sinonasal cancer is a rare group of tumours arising in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, including squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, mela… OccupationalEuropeWood dust 13 answered questionsRead topic → Head and Neck Cancer of Unknown Primary Head and neck cancer of unknown primary means a malignant cervical lymph node is found but no primary tumour can be seen after the initial examination… Neck lumpHPV p16North America 13 answered questionsRead topic → Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders Oral potentially malignant disorders are chronic mucosal changes — white patches (leukoplakia), red patches (erythroplakia), oral submucous fibrosis a… South AsiaAreca nutLeukoplakia 13 answered questionsRead topic →

Which tumour is high-incidence in which region?

Full atlas & data tables →
RegionDominant head & neck tumourRegional share / signal
North AmericaHPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer43.8% of the regional lip/oral/pharyngeal burden
Northern & Western Europe / UKHPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer and laryngeal cancerHPV-attributable fraction 52–77% in the UK and Scandinavia
South-Central Asia (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka)Oral cavity cancer59.8% of the regional lip/oral/pharyngeal burden
South-East AsiaNasopharyngeal carcinoma50.8% of the regional lip/oral/pharyngeal burden
Northern Africa & the Middle EastNasopharyngeal carcinoma41.8% of the regional lip/oral/pharyngeal burden
Eastern Europe, Caribbean & BrazilLaryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancerHypopharynx 15.8% of Eastern Europe’s LOCP burden
Australia, New Zealand & the PacificLip and head/neck skin cancer; HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancerLip cancer 20.5% of Australia/NZ LOCP burden; 26.5% in Melanesia
East Asia (incl. South Korea, China, Japan)Nasopharyngeal carcinoma and thyroid cancerNPC 36.9% of the East Asian LOCP burden; Asia holds 72.7% of global thyroid cancer cases
Shares are the proportion of all lip, oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers in that region from the 2022 GLOBOCAN subsite analysis. The four best-documented subsites (lip/oral cavity, oropharynx, nasopharynx, larynx) together account for roughly 418,000 deaths a year in GLOBOCAN 2022 estimates.

Why this matters: a patient from Indonesia with a blocked ear and an American with a painless neck lump need very different first tests. Geography changes the differential diagnosis, the biomarkers you should ask for, and the treatment plan.

How this knowledge base is organised

1 · Topic hubs

Twelve disease hubs with quick answers, global incidence, symptoms, staging, treatment, prognosis and sources.

2 · One question, one page

168 short, self-contained answers arranged in clusters: understanding the disease, diagnosis, treatment, side effects, follow-up, prevention and treatment in China.

3 · Practical guides

14 step-by-step guides covering warning signs, staging, surgery, radiotherapy, side effects, rehabilitation, records, costs and aftercare.

4 · Evidence & GEO

Every statistic is sourced, every page is dated and structured (MedicalWebPage, FAQPage, BreadcrumbList), and llms.txt summarises the site for AI answer engines.

Who writes and reviews this

Written and medically reviewed by Xiangpeng Liu, MD

Associate Chief Physician, ENT & Head/Neck Surgery · Chenzhou First People’s Hospital, Chenzhou, Hunan, China

Over 10 years of clinical practice and 4,000+ ENT and head/neck operations. Content is reviewed against GLOBOCAN 2022 / IARC data and current NCCN and NCI patient guidance. Last reviewed 8 November 2026.

Editorial policy & reviewer credentials · All sources

Researching treatment in China?

Start with a remote review of your pathology and imaging. A written opinion and an itemised estimate should come before any travel decision.

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Medical disclaimer: This knowledge base is general information for people researching head and neck tumours, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. It does not replace an examination by a qualified physician. Survival figures are population averages, not predictions for an individual. Treatment and cost estimates for China are illustrative only and must be confirmed in writing after your records have been reviewed. If you have a symptom lasting more than two to three weeks, see a doctor promptly.