Causes of Primary Neck Cancer
Neck cancer is not a specific type of cancer, but rather a location where multiple different types of cancer can occur. Therefore, the cause of a cancer in the neck depends on the specific type of the primary cancer. Two of the main types of primary neck cancers include sarcomas and lymphomas. Several different types of cancers may begin outside of the neck and spread (or metastasize) to the neck. These may include:
- Metastatic Lymph Nodes , or cancers that spread from another site to the lymph nodes in the neck.
- Thyroid Cancer.
- Salivary Gland Cancer.
- Skin Cancers.
Factors Associated with Developing Primary Neck Cancer
- Radiation: Prior radiation treatment for previous cancer can increase the chance of developing a sarcoma.
- Viruses & Immunodeficiencies: These conditions have been associated with sarcomas or lymphomas in the neck.
- Genetic factors: A patient’s genetics can may make them more likely to develop neck cancers. A number of genetic factors are related to sarcomas and lymphomas.
Signs & Symptoms
Cancer in the neck is typically found in one of two ways: a patient or their doctor notices a lump in the neck, or an imaging study for an unrelated reason identifies a mass in the neck that looks suspicious and requires further evaluation.
Additional Symptoms
- Neck pain
- Skin changes or ulceration over a neck lump
- Shoulder weakness
- Neck numbness
- Voice changes
- Difficulty swallowing
- Limited neck range of motion
Lymphoma may present a little differently than other cancers of the neck. Patients with lymphoma are typically younger than most head and neck cancer patients. In addition to a mass in the neck, which is typical of most neck cancers, lymphoma patients may also experience fevers, chills, night sweats, fatigue, and weight loss. Enlarged lymph nodes in the body may also present as a symptom of lymphoma.
It is important to note that a patient could have a lump in the neck or more of these symptoms but not have a neck cancer. This is why it is particularly important to see a specialist for further medical evaluation. Typically, a general physician will examine a patient and their neck mass, take their medical history, and assess their risk factors. A patient may then be prescribed medications or other therapies for a couple of weeks. If the neck mass does not resolve in a few weeks, or if it grows bigger, the doctor will likely perform more diagnostic tests or refer the patient to a specialist.
