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Start free with EleplanSquamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx
ORPHA:494547Disease
What it is
A rare head and neck tumor characterized by a malignant epithelial neoplasm with evidence of squamous differentiation, most commonly located in the piriform sinus, less frequently the posterior pharyngeal wall or the postcricoid area. The tumor can spread directly to adjacent structures or metastasize via lymphatic and blood vessels to regional lymph nodes, or lung, liver, and bones, respectively. Primary risk factors are tobacco smoking and (to a lesser extent) alcohol consumption. Patients may present with odynophagia, dysphagia, signs and symptoms related to a neck mass, voice changes, otalgia, and constitutional symptoms.
Key facts
- Prevalence
- 1-9 / 100 000 (annual incidence, Europe)
- Age of onset
- Adult, Elderly
- Inheritance
- Not applicable
- Classified as
- Disease
Prevalence figures describe populations, not individuals, and are often estimates from a single study. Where the figure is an incidence or a birth prevalence, it says so.
Genes
ICD-10 codes
Cross-references
Orphadata Science: Free access data from Orphanet. © INSERM 1999. Data version 2026-06-23. Available under CC BY 4.0. This is a reference, not medical advice.
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