Factors related to outcome of salvage therapy for isolated cervical recurrence of squamous cell carcinoma in the previously treated neck: a multi-institutional study.

OBJECTIVE

The goal was to identify factors associated with the outcome of salvage therapy for patients with isolated cervical recurrences of squamous cell carcinoma in the previously treated neck (ICR-PTN).

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTINGS

A tumor registry search for ICR-PTN patients was performed at 7 participating institutions, and the charts were reviewed. Kaplan-Meier plots for survival and time until re-recurrence were used to evaluate the significance of associated variables.

RESULTS

Median survival and time until re-recurrence were both 11 months. Survival was better in patients with the following characteristics: nonsurgical initial neck treatment, negative initial disease resection margins, no history of prior recurrence, ipsilateral location of the ICR-PTN relative to the primary, and use of surgical salvage.

CONCLUSIONS

By pooling the experience of 7 US tertiary care medical centers, we have identified 5 factors that are associated with outcome of salvage therapy for ICR-PTN.

SIGNIFICANCE

Consideration of these factors, as well as the reviewed literature, should facilitate patient selection for salvage protocols.