Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

For determining the sensitMty and specificity of serum level of circulating sec tumor marker, for diagnosis of head and neck primary tumors and metastatic types of see and non-See tumors, the present study was conducted. 89 patients with head and neck tumors (thyroid tumors were excluded) were studied during a one year period.

When the questionnaires were completed and radiologic measures and clinical tests were performed, the patients underwent the clinical and pathologic diagnoses and received medical therapy. All the regular and special methods of histopathology were applied for final diagnosis. Of 89 cases, 50 (56.2%) proved to have squamous cell carcinoma and 39 (43.8%) proved to have non-See tumors with 21 different pathologic types.

To measure the above mentioned marker, blood samples were obtained from the cases and were tested by immunologic, biochemical and enzymatic mothods. Then the results were compared with results of pathologic diagnosis. The final result shows that the level of see tumor marker increases significantly (P < 0.0001) in sec of head and neck. Moreover, in patients with malignant tumors of head and neck, the level of this tumor marker is higher (P < 0.05) than patients with benign tumors of head and neck. It should be noted that, according to pathological diagnosis, 73% of head and neck tumors are malignant and 23% are benign.