Background: Head and neck neoplasm (HNN) is one of the most common neoplasms in ۶th and ۷th of life. Its incidence rate is different in various human societies. Some neoplasms have an increasing trend in the young population, and some have a decreasing trend. According to the limited evidence in Iran, we decided to investigate the types and basic characteristics of HNN in young patients with less than ۴۰ years and old patients more than ۴۰ years of age.Methods: In this cross sectional study, we assessed the medical records of ۶۹۵ patients in the department of Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) of Loghman Hakim Hospital during ۲۰۰۷- ۲۰۱۷ to compare the fundamental characteristics and types of HNN in young and old adults. Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test were used and interpreted with a significant level of less than ۰.۰۵.Results: The average age of our patients was ۵۱.۸۰±۱۷.۳۹ years old. The majority of the patients were more than ۴۰ years old (n=۵۱۴, ۷۳.۹۵%) and the rest were younger (n=۱۸۱, ۲۶.۰۵%). Significantly, the percentage of male patients, diabetic patients, positive history of smoking were more predominant in old adults as compared to young adults (۷۲.۷۶% vs. ۴۹.۱۸%, ۱۰.۳۱% vs. ۲.۲۰%, ۶۶.۹۹% vs. ۲۵.۴۴%; all P<۰.۰۰۱). However the neoplasms of salivary glands, thyroid, and paranasal sinus had a significantly higher frequency in young adults (۴۱.۹۸%(n=۷۶); P<۰.۰۰۱, ۲۱.۵۵%(n=۳۹);P<۰.۰۰۱, ۶.۱۰%(n=۱۱); P=۰.۰۳۳ respectively).There was a high percentage of larynx neoplasm in old adults as compared to young adults (۴۲.۲۲ %(n=۲۱۷) vs. ۴.۴۱%(n=۸); P=۰.۰۰۱).Conclusion: Larynx neoplasm was common among old smokers. The percentage of salivary glands and thyroid neoplasms were higher than other HNN in young adults (≤۴۰ years old), especially female patients and non-smokers. Therefore, HNN is not rare in youngpeople and the physicians must consider it while cancer screening young adults.
