BACKGROUND: To assess survival after squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) recurrence in surgical patients with head and neck cancer METHODS: Files of patients submitted to loco-regional treatment (primary tumor and neck dissection) of SCC of the mouth, oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx between 1978 and 2001 were reviewed. One hundred-forty patients who developed disease recurrence were followed until death. After 1999, 30 of them received a multidisciplinary palliative care. Time interval between an unsalvageable recurrence and death was analyzed in front of primary site, initial stage of disease, disease-free survival and palliative care. Results were expressed as median and mean values, with their respective quartiles and percentiles. RESULTS: Median disease-free survival in this group was 30 weeks. The median survival after recurrence was 17 weeks (Q25-75% = 8 to 34 weeks). Seventeen patients (12%) survived more than 52 weeks after recurrence. The primary site, initial stage, recurrence site, disease-free survival and palliative care had no significant impact on survival after recurrence. CONCLUSION: Survival after unsalvageable recurrence of head and neck SCC is similar to reported in untreated patients. Palliative care do not increase survival of these patients.
Head and neck neoplasms; Carcinoma; squamous Cell; Recurrence; Palliative care
