Prior chemoradiotherapy and pathological perineural invasion predict the survival outcomes of salvage surgery in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the oncological outcomes of salvage surgery in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). This is a retrospective analysis of all patients of SCCHN with recurrence or second primary, post-treatment, who underwent salvage surgery. The outcomes were analyzed in terms of overall survival, overall survival postsalvage surgery and disease-free survival (DFS) postsalvage surgery. Clinical and pathological predictors were considered. Two hundred and forty-one patients were included. The mean follow-up was 56.33 months. Five-year survival OS from date of initial diagnosis of the tumor was 61.2%. The 5-year OS survival after salvage surgery was 47.1%. Five-year DFS after salvage surgery was 28.1%. Prior chemoradiotherapy and pathological perineural invasion were independent predictors on multivariate analysis. Survival outcomes after appropriate salvage treatment are good. Prior chemoradiotherapy and perineural invasion on salvage pathology are predictors of poorer outcomes.