Rare Pediatric Malignancies of the Head and Neck

Although malignancies of the head and neck are uncommon in pediatrics, treatment of these tumors present special problems due to their location and rarity. Local control can be difficult since the proximity of vital structures can make resection difficult and possibly disfiguring. Radiotherapy in this area also presents unique problems that are both short term and long term in nature. Since these tumors are uncommon, the best option for treatment with chemotherapy in many cases is not well defined. We address some of these issues in three pediatric head and neck tumors – salivary gland tumors, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and central giant cell granuloma.