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

Abstract

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