Head and neck cancer is the seventh most common cancer worldwide. In 2024, approximately 58 450 individuals were diagnosed with oral cavity and pharynx cancer and 12 650 were diagnosed larynx cancer in the US.

Although many malignancies originate in the head and neck region, the term head and neck cancer typically applies to tumors arising in the lining or mucosa of the upper aerodigestive tract. Approximately 90% of head and neck cancers are caused by squamous cell carcinoma.

This Review summarizes the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) of the upper aerodigestive tract.

This review examines the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract.