The follow up for the locoregional recurrences of oral and oropharyngeal cancer

Abstract

Introduction: The follow up in cases of squamous cell carcinoma of mouth and oropharynx aims at diagnosing local and regional recurrences, especially during the first two years, whereas the diagnosis of second primary tumors is critical after the third year of follow up. Objective: To determine the importance of the follow up on the diagnosis of local and regional recurrences and the indication of salvage treatment and to evaluate the diagnosis and outcome of virtual metastases and the second primary tumor. Method: Retrospective study of 276 patients after initial surgical treatment with or without postoperative radiotherapy. One hundred ninety-eight cases were of mouth neoplasms and 78 cases of oropharynx neoplasms. Results: 127 cases developed exclusive locoregional recurrences, 20 distant metastases and 20 second primary tumors. The clinical stage were: 25 stage I, 11 stage II, 16 stage III and 71 stage IV. 37 recurrences in oropharynx and 90 in mouth. Seventy-six patients were surgically salvaged and 13 with chemoradiotherapy. Disease free survival of these patients was of 13% when the locoregional recurrences were diagnosed in the first six months, 40% between six and 12 months and 48% after 12 months (p = 0.00001). The initial clinical stage and in the recurrence were important factors influencing the type of rescue and in the 89 patients salvaged the 5-year free disease survival was statistically significant (p=0.0017). Conclusion: The follow up of squamous cell carcinoma of mouth and oropharynx is important for local and regional control within five years of rescue treatment.

Keywords

• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Recurrence
• Treatment outcome
• Early diagnosis
• Mouth neoplasms
• Oropharyngeal neoplasms