IS NEUTROPHIL TO LYMPHOCYTE RATIO (NLR) AN ADVERSE PROGNOSTIC FACTOR IN HEAD AND NECK CANCER? A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS

Head and neck cancer (HNC) represent a signicant public health concern in India, with its incidence rising sharply in recent years. According to the National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) of India, HNC accounts for approximately 30% of all cancers in males and around 15% in females, making it one of the most prevalent cancer 1 types in the country . As per thte GLOBOCAN 2022, Oral cavity cancer is the second most common cancer in India, the most common th 2 in men and the 4 most common in women . The majority of cases are attributed to tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and the prevalence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), which is particularly high in 3 regions where chewing tobacco and betel quid are common practices .