Two-thirds of oral cavity cancers and 77 percent of oropharyngeal cancers are not diagnosed until they are larger than four centimeters in diameter. Patient procrastination in seeking medical attention, delayed diagnosis by physician, and prolonged asymptomatic period all contribute to late diagnosis.

Physicians can avoid diagnostic delays by identifying patients who may be at increased risk of head and neck cancer, maintaining a high index of suspicion, conducting comprehensive examinations of patients, and attending to common symptoms. Patients at high risk who complain of persistent symptoms in the absence of demonstrable findings should be referred to a head and neck surgeon.