DISEASE RECURRENCE PREDICTORS FOR PATIENTS WITH HEAD AND NECK SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

Abstract

Information on reliable factors to predict patient outcome is important for deciding upon the best treatment to increase loco-regional control, overall survival and quality of life of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The objective of this study was to investigate the role of clinico-pathological parameters as predictors of disease recurrence in patients with HSNCC. We studied fifty patients who were seeking treatment for primary HSNCC in Westmed Hospital between 2002 – 2004. Univariate analysis was used to identify any significant association between clinico-pathological parameters and disease recurrence. It was showed that age (p=0.008), cTNM stage (p=0.02), size of tumour (p=0.009) and positive tumour margin (p=0.002) predicted the risk of the development of disease recurrence. A longer follow-up study should be performed to assess the significance of these factors on overall survival as well as separate studies on prognostic indicators for patients with histologically negative lymph node.

Keywords

• Squamous cell carcinoma
• head and neck
• predictor