There still are many clinical and biological aspects of the natural history of cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract to be unveiled; which in Brazil is a direct consequence of the failure of systematic prevention and early diagnosis campaigns.
OBJECTIVE:
To analyze the signs and symptoms presented by patients with the disease at initial and advanced stages. Other variables such as disease duration, general and nutritional status were considered.
METHOD:
A historical cohort study with a cross-section involving 895 subjects with cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract.
RESULTS:
Clinical findings were not statistically correlated with disease progression, nor with the disease in early stages, but it showed rapid disease development.
CONCLUSION:
The results suggest a disease of insidious onset in the early stages and fast course afterwards. The long disease duration - greater than three months, was associated with worsening in general and nutritional states of patients.
clinical course; late diagnosis; neoplasms of the head and neck; primary prevention; signs and symptoms