A reliable cirulating tumor marker, appropriate for head and neck malignancy, is not yet available. This primitive manuscript report the efficacy of circulating squamous cell carcinoma antigen in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Serum samples were obtained from 36 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck before treatment and following treatment and at regular intervals. Serum levels of squamous cell carcinoma antigen were determined by immunoradiometric assay(IRMA). Serum levels of squamous cell carcinoma antigen were elevated in 12 patients(33.3%) before treatment, which were significantly correlated with tumor burden. However, the sensitivity or specificity of squamous cell carcinoma antigen in the detection of squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck were low to be useful in clinical practice. It had low sensitivity, specificity and the combinations with other organ nonspecific tumor marker was so too. These results suggest that squamous cell carcinoma antigen may not be of useful value in the screening of the squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck. But it may be of value in selected patient with elevated level for follow up.