Abstract
Squamous cell carcinoma is the most frequent malignant tumour of the head and neck. It affects more than one thousand patients in the Czech Republic each year.
Despite advances in surgical techniques (endoscopic surgery, functional neck dissection etc.), instruments (laser, harmonic ultrascission knife, radiofrequency a.o.) and oncology guidelines, the overall 5-year survival rate remains under 50 %. The article reviews current data on early cancerogenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and outlines possible research trends.