Head and neck cancer includes several types of cancer that usually start in the cells lining your mouth, throat (pharynx) or voice box (larynx). These cells are called squamous cells. Less commonly, head and neck cancers form in your sinuses or salivary glands.
Most head and neck cancers are classified as squamous cell carcinoma, after the cell that changes into a cancer cell.
- Oral cancer: Cancer that forms in your lips, tongue, gums, the lining of your cheeks and lips, the top and bottom of your mouth, or behind your wisdom teeth.
- Oropharyngeal cancer: Cancer of the middle part of your throat (oropharynx). Tonsil cancer is the most common type of oropharyngeal cancer.
- Hypopharyngeal cancer: Cancer of the bottom part of your throat (hypopharynx).
- Laryngeal cancer: Cancer of your voice box (larynx), which contains your vocal cords.
- Nasopharyngeal cancer: Cancer of the upper part of your throat (nasopharynx).
- Salivary gland cancer: Cancer of your salivary glands, which produce saliva (spit).
- Nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer: Cancer that forms in the hollow area inside of your nose (nasal cavity) or the hollow spaces in the bones surrounding your nose (paranasal sinuses).
- Head and neck cancers sometimes spread to the lymph nodes in the upper part of your neck.