The timing and methods for detection of recurrence in patients with head and neck cancer

Abstract

Background

Early detection of head and neck cancer recurrence after curative treatment is crucial for effective salvage treatment.

Objective

We aimed to examine the timing and method that allowed early detection of recurrence in each primary and recurrence site.

Materials and methods

We enrolled 440 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx who underwent curative treatment focusing on surgery at our hospital between 2009 and 2018. We examined the timing and diagnostic method (clinical examination, patient symptoms, or imaging examination) for HNSCC recurrence according to the primary and recurrence sites.

Results

Recurrence was observed in 133 patients. In all primary sites, regional recurrence occurred significantly earlier than local and distant recurrences. Local recurrence occurred later in the larynx than in other primary sites. Furthermore, the clinical examination had a higher ratio of detection of local recurrence in the larynx than in the other primary site. Regardless of the primary site, more than half of the regional recurrences and most of the distant recurrences were detected by imaging examination.

Conclusions and significance

Imaging examination is preferable for achieving early detection of regional and distant recurrences.

Chinese Abstract

背景：头颈癌治疗后, 复发的早期发现对于头颈癌的有效救治至关重要。

目的：我们的目的是研究何时及如何能够及早发现在每个原发部位和复发部位的复发。

材料和方法：我们招募了 440 名2009 年至 2018 年间在我院接受手术治疗的头颈部鳞状细胞癌 (HNSCC) 患者, 他们的癌症发生于口腔、口咽、下咽或喉部。我们根据原发部位和复发部位, 检查了时间和诊断HNSCC 复发的方法（临床检查、患者症状或影像学检查）

结果：133 例患者出现复发。 在所有原发部位, 区域复发明显早于局部和远处复发。 喉部局部复发晚于其它原发部位。 此外, 临床检查的喉部局部复发的检出率高于其它原发部位。 无论原发部位怎样, 超过一半的局部复发和大部分远处复发是通过影像检查发现的。

结论及意义：影像检查早期发现局部和远处复发的优选方式。

Keywords:

• Head and neck cancer
• recurrence
• surveillance
• period of recurrence
• detection method of recurrence

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Editage (www.editage.com) for English language editing.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.