Cytologic features of serous carcinoma are:

- Marked intragroup nuclear pleomorphism.

- Macronucleoli.

- "Knobby" group borders (in large groups).

- Hydropic vacuoles.

Symptoms of serous carcinoma may include:

- Discomfort/pain or bloating in abdomen

- Frequent urination

- Weight loss

The symptoms of laryngeal cancer depend on the size and location of the tumour. Symptoms may include the following:

- Hoarseness or other voice changes

- A lump in the neck

- A sore throat or feeling that something is stuck in the throat

- Persistent cough

- Stridor - a high-pitched wheezing sound indicative of a narrowed or obstructed airway

- Bad breath

- Earache (""referred"")

- Difficulty swallowing

Treatment effects can include post-operative changes in appearance, difficulty eating, or loss of voice that may require learning alternate methods of speaking.

Signs vary but may include bleeding from the nose, nasal discharge, facial deformity from bone erosion and tumor growth, sneezing, or difficulty breathing.

Esophageal cancer may be due to either squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) or adenocarcinoma (EAC). SCCs tend to occur closer to the mouth, while adenocarcinomas occur closer to the stomach. Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing, solids worse than liquids) and painful swallowing are common initial symptoms. If the disease is localized, surgical removal of the affected esophagus may offer the possibility of a cure. If the disease has spread, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are commonly used.

In its early stages, it can go unnoticed. It can be painless with slight physical changes. But the precursor tissue changes, can be noticed by the doctors.

Early stage symptoms can include persistent red or white patches, a non-healing ulcer, progressive swelling or enlargement, unusual surface changes, sudden tooth mobility without apparent cause, unusual oral bleeding or epitaxis and prolonged hoarseness.

Late stage symptoms can include an indurated area, paresthesia or dysesthesia of the tongue or lips, airway obstruction, chronic serous otitis media, otalgia, trismus, dysphagia, cervical lymphadenopathy, persistent pain or referred pain and altered vision.

Ninety percent of cases of head and neck cancer (cancer of the mouth, nasal cavity, nasopharynx, throat and associated structures) are due to squamous cell carcinoma.

The differential diagnosis of serous carcinoma not otherwise specified includes:

- Ovarian serous carcinoma, a type of ovarian cancer.

- Uterine serous carcinoma, also known as "uterine papillary serous carcinoma", a type of uterine cancer.

- Fallopian tube serous carcinoma, a type of uterine tube cancer.

- Cervical serous carcinoma, a rare type of cervical cancer.

- Primary peritoneal serous carcinoma, a very rare cancer that arise from the peritoneum.

There has been the suggestion that the above diagnoses really represent one entity.

Laryngeal cancer, also known as cancer of the larynx or laryngeal carcinoma, are mostly squamous cell carcinomas, reflecting their origin from the skin of the larynx.

Cancer can develop in any part of the larynx, but the cure rate is affected by the location of the tumour. For the purposes of tumour staging, the larynx is divided into three anatomical regions: the glottis (true vocal cords, anterior and posterior commissures); the supraglottis (epiglottis, arytenoids and aryepiglottic folds, and false cords); and the subglottis.

Most laryngeal cancers originate in the glottis. Supraglottic cancers are less common, and subglottic tumours are least frequent.

Laryngeal cancer may spread by direct extension to adjacent structures, by metastasis to regional cervical lymph nodes, or more distantly, through the blood stream. Distant metastases to the lung are most common. In 2013 it resulted in 88,000 deaths up from 76,000 deaths in 1990. Five year survival rates in the United States are 60%.

Throat cancer usually begins with symptoms that seem harmless enough, like an enlarged lymph node on the outside of the neck, a sore throat or a hoarse sounding voice. However, in the case of throat cancer, these conditions may persist and become chronic. There may be a lump or a sore in the throat or neck that does not heal or go away. There may be difficult or painful swallowing. Speaking may become difficult. There may be a persistent earache. Other possible but less common symptoms include some numbness or paralysis of the face muscles.

Presenting symptoms include :

- Mass in the neck

- Neck pain

- Bleeding from the mouth

- Sinus congestion, especially with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

- Bad breath

- Sore tongue

- Painless ulcer or sores in the mouth that do not heal

- White, red or dark patches in the mouth that will not go away

- Earache

- Unusual bleeding or numbness in the mouth

- Lump in the lip, mouth or gums

- Enlarged lymph glands in the neck

- Slurring of speech (if the cancer is affecting the tongue)

- Hoarse voice which persists for more than six weeks

- Sore throat which persists for more than six weeks

- Difficulty swallowing food

- Change in diet or weight loss

Swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck is the initial presentation in many people, and the diagnosis of NPC is often made by lymph node biopsy. Signs and symptoms related to the primary tumor include trismus, pain, otitis media, nasal regurgitation due to paresis (loss of or impaired movement) of the soft palate, hearing loss and cranial nerve palsy (paralysis). Larger growths may produce nasal obstruction or bleeding and a "nasal twang". Metastatic spread may result in bone pain or organ dysfunction. Rarely, a paraneoplastic syndrome of osteoarthropathy (diseases of joints and bones) may occur with widespread disease.

Oral cancer, also known as mouth cancer, is a type of head and neck cancer and is any cancerous tissue growth located in the oral cavity.

It may arise as a primary lesion originating in any of the tissues in the mouth, by metastasis from a distant site of origin, or by extension from a neighboring anatomic structure, such as the nasal cavity. Alternatively, the oral cancers may originate in any of the tissues of the mouth, and may be of varied histologic types: teratoma, adenocarcinoma derived from a major or minor salivary gland, lymphoma from tonsillar or other lymphoid tissue, or melanoma from the pigment-producing cells of the oral mucosa. There are several types of oral cancers, but around 90% are squamous cell carcinomas, originating in the tissues that line the mouth and lips. Oral or mouth cancer most commonly involves the tongue. It may also occur on the floor of the mouth, cheek lining, gingiva (gums), lips, or palate (roof of the mouth). Most oral cancers look very similar under the microscope and are called squamous cell carcinoma, but less commonly other types of oral cancer occur, such as Kaposi's sarcoma.

In 2013 oral cancer resulted in 135,000 deaths up from 84,000 deaths in 1990. Five-year survival rates in the United States are 63%.

The most common type of cancers affecting the animal's nose are carcinomas and

sarcomas, both of which are locally invasive. The most common sites for metastasis are the lymph nodes and the lungs, but can also include other organs.

Squamous cell cancers are common in the mouth, including the inner lip, tongue, floor of mouth, gingivae, and hard palate. Cancers of the mouth are strongly associated with tobacco use, especially use of chewing tobacco or "dip", as well as heavy alcohol use. Cancers of this region, particularly the tongue, are more frequently treated with surgery than are other head and neck cancers.

Surgeries for oral cancers include

- Maxillectomy (can be done with or without orbital exenteration)

- Mandibulectomy (removal of the mandible or lower jaw or part of it)

- Glossectomy (tongue removal, can be total, hemi or partial)

- Radical neck dissection

- Mohs procedure

- Combinational e.g., glossectomy and laryngectomy done together.

The defect is typically covered/improved by using another part of the body and/or skin grafts and/or wearing a prosthesis.

Primary peritoneal cancer or carcinoma is also known as serous surface papillary carcinoma, primary peritoneal carcinoma, extra-ovarian serous carcinoma, primary serous papillary carcinoma, psammomacarcinoma. It was historically classified under "carcinoma of unknown primary" (CUP). Primary peritoneal cancer (PPC, or PPCa) is a cancer of the cells lining the peritoneum, or abdominal cavity.

Some studies indicate that up to 15% of serous ovarian cancers are thought to be actually primary peritoneal carcinomas in origin.

Histomorphological and molecular biological characteristics suggest that serous carcinomas, which include ovarian serous carcinoma, uterine serous carcinoma, Fallopian tube serous carcinoma, cervical serous carcinoma, and primary peritoneal serous carcinoma really represent one entity.

A pattern of multiple small nodular metastases has been described as miliary carcinosis which has a radiographic appearance similar to miliary tuberculosis.

Verrucous carcinoma (VC) is an uncommon variant of squamous cell carcinoma. This form of cancer is often seen in those who chew tobacco or use snuff orally, so much so that it is sometimes referred to as "Snuff dipper's cancer."

Most patients with verrucous carcinoma have a good prognosis. Local recurrence is not uncommon, but metastasis to distant parts of the body is rare. Patients with oral verrucous carcinoma may be at greater risk of a second oral squamous cell carcinoma, for which the prognosis is worse.

Verrucous carcinoma may occur in various head and neck locations, as well as in the genitalia. The oral cavity is the most common site of this tumor. The ages range from 50 to 80 years with a male predominance and a median age of 67 years. VC may grow large in size, resulting in the destruction of adjacent tissue, such as bone and cartilage.

The diagnosis of VC is established by close communication between surgeons and pathologists.

Surgeons must provide adequate specimens including the full thickness of the tumors and adjacent uninvolved mucosa for correct diagnoses.

Surgery is considered as the treatment of choice, but the extent of surgical margin and the adjuvant radiotherapy are still controversial.

The major risk factors are cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption, while betel nut is an additional factor in Taiwan. Different gene mutation sites in head and neck cancer between western countries and Taiwan have been reported. The presentation of VC originated from exposure to different carcinogens may not be the same.

When most tumors metastasize to the lung, they form distinct nodules, but about 7% spread through the lymph vessels of the lung. They may impair breathing in several ways; the lung becomes stiffer; blood vessels traveling alongside the distended lymph vessels become compressed.

Nasopharynx cancer or nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the most common cancer originating in the nasopharynx, most commonly in the postero-lateral nasopharynx or pharyngeal recess or 'Fossa of Rosenmüller' accounting for 50% cases. NPC occurs in children and adults. NPC differs significantly from other cancers of the head and neck in its occurrence, causes, clinical behavior, and treatment. It is vastly more common in certain regions of East Asia and Africa than elsewhere, with viral, dietary and genetic factors implicated in its causation. It is most common in males. It is a squamous cell carcinoma or an undifferentiated type. Squamous epithelial cells are a flat type of cell found in the skin and the membranes that line some body cavities. Differentiation means how different the cancer cells are from normal cells. "Undifferentiated cells" are cells that do not have their mature features or functions.

Many of the symptoms of NSCLC can be signs of other diseases, but having chronic or overlapping symptoms may be a signal of the presence of the disease. Some symptoms are indicators of less advanced cases while some may signal that the cancer has spread. Some of the symptoms of less advanced cancer include chronic cough, coughing up blood, chest pain, hoarseness, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, weight loss, and loss of appetite. A few more symptoms associated with the early progression of the disease are feeling weak, being very tired, having trouble swallowing, swelling in the face or neck, and continuous or recurring infections like bronchitis or pneumonia. Signs of more advanced cases include bone pain, nervous system changes (headache, weakness, dizziness, balance problems, seizures), jaundice, lumps near the surface of the body, numbness of extremities due to Pancoast Syndrome, and nausea, vomiting and constipation brought on by hypercalcemia. Some more of the symptoms that indicate further progression of the cancer include shortness of breath, superior vena cava syndrome, trouble swallowing, large amounts of mucus, weakness, fatigue, and hoarseness.

Head and neck cancers are malignant neoplasms that arise in the head and region which comprises nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, oral cavity, salivary glands, pharynx, and larynx. Majority of head and neck cancers histologically belong to squamous cell type and hence they are categorized as Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (abbreviated as HNSCC)[Forastiere AA, 2003]. HNSCC are the 6th most common cancers worldwide and 3rd most common cancers in developing world. They account for ~ 5% of all malignancies worldwide (Ferlay J, 2010) and 3% of all malignancies in the United States (Siegel R, 2014).

Risk factors include tobacco consumption (chewing or smoking), alcohol consumption, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, human papilloma virus (HPV; esp. HPV 16, 18) infection, betel nut chewing, wood dust exposures, consumption of certain salted fish and others (NCI Factsheet, 2013). EBV infection has been specifically associated with nasopharyngeal cancer. Reverse smoking was considered as a risk factor for oral cancer. Interestingly, "Cis-retinoic acid" (i.e. supplements of retinoic acid) intake may increase the risk of HNSCC in active smokers. Low consumption of fruits and vegetables was associated with higher incidence of HNSCC.

HNSCC classification: Based on the HPV infection status, head and neck cancers are classified into HPV-positive and HPV-negative categories. So far, this is the only available molecular classification. Majority (>50%) of oral cancers are HPV-positive in the U.S. HPV-positive oral cancers are widely prevalent in younger patients and are associated with multiple sexual partners and oral sexual practices. HPV-positive cancers have better prognosis, especially for nonsmokers as compared to HPV-negative cancers.

Staging and grading of HNSCC: HNSCC are classified according to the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) system of American Joint Committee on cancer. TNM staging system for HNSCC are discussed else where.

Symptoms include lump or sore, sore throat, hoarse of voice, difficulty in swallowing etc (NCI Factsheet, 2013).

Treatment for HNSCC is predominantly based on the stage of the disease. Factors such as patient fitness, baseline swallow, airway functional status, and others are considered before determining the treatment plan. Standard of care for HNSCC includes one or combination of the following: surgery, radiation, chemotherapeutic agents such as Cisplatin, 5-Flurouracil (5-FU) etc. Molecularly targeted therapies were developed since the discovery of role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling in HNSCC development, progression and prognosis. These targeted therapies include monoclonal antibodies (such as cetuximab, panitumumab etc.) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (such as erlotinib, gefitinib, etc.). Among these EGFR-targeting agents, only cetuximab has been approved by FDA in 2006 for HNSCC treatment.

Ninety percent (MacMillan, 2015) of cases of head and neck cancer (cancer of the mouth, nasal cavity, nasopharynx, throat and associated structures) are due to squamous cell carcinoma. Symptoms may include a poorly healing mouth ulcer, a hoarse voice or other persistent problems in the area. Treatment is usually with surgery (which may be extensive) and radiotherapy. Risk factors include smoking, alcohol consumption and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Elad S, Zadik Y, Zeevi I, et al., 2010, pp. 1243–1244). In addition, recent studies show that about 25% of mouth and 35% of throat cancers are associated with HPV. The 5 year disease free survival rate for HPV positive cancer is significantly higher when appropriately treated with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy as compared to non-HPV positive cancer, substantiated by multiple studies including research conducted by Maura Gillison, "et al." of Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center.

Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma, abbreviated SNUC, is a rare aggressive type of cancer that arises from epithelium or lining of the nose or sinuses.

In most cases, symptoms present themselves at an advanced stage of disease. They can include but are not limited to:

Nosebleed

Nasal obstruction

Proptosis (displacement of the eye)

Vision changes

Headache

Non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is any type of epithelial lung cancer other than small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). NSCLC accounts for about 85% of all lung cancers. As a class, NSCLCs are relatively insensitive to chemotherapy, compared to small cell carcinoma. When possible, they are primarily treated by surgical resection with curative intent, although chemotherapy is increasingly being used both pre-operatively (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) and post-operatively (adjuvant chemotherapy).

Esthesioneuroblastoma will first frequently present as a nasal mass. The most common signs and symptoms of esthesioneuroblastoma are nasal obstruction (70%) and epistaxis (50%). Less common symptoms include hyposmia (loss of smell), headache, rhinorrhea, vision loss, proptosis, facial pain, diplopia (double vision), masses in the neck and changes in mental status. Esthesioneuroblastoma occurs in the upper nasal cavity, near the optic nerves and optic chiasm. Thus, tumor growth can impinge nerve function and result in vision loss and diplopia. As the tumor metastasizes to the oral cavity, there can be tooth pain and tooth mobility.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a clinical condition caused by cancerous cells (mucinous adenocarcinoma) that produce abundant mucin or gelatinous ascites. The tumors cause fibrosis of tissues and impede digestion or organ function, and if left untreated, the tumors and mucin they produce will fill the abdominal cavity. This will result in compression of organs and will destroy the function of colon, small intestine, stomach, or other organs. Prognosis with treatment in many cases is optimistic, but the disease is lethal if untreated, with death by cachexia, bowel obstruction, or other types of complications.

This disease is most commonly caused by an appendiceal primary cancer (cancer of the appendix); mucinous tumors of the ovary have also been implicated, although in most cases ovarian involvement is favored to be a metastasis from an appendiceal or other gastrointestinal source. Disease is typically classified as low- or high-grade (with signet ring cells). When disease presents with low-grade histologic features the cancer rarely spreads through the lymphatic system or through the bloodstream.