Radiotherapy for postoperative recurrent squamous cell carcinoma in head and neck.

Abstract

The results of radiotherapy for postsurgical recurrent squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck region are presented. Significant control of recurrent tumor by radiotherapy was achieved in only two of 31 patients. Twenty-nine patients either had persistent or recurrent tumor within six months of completing radiotherapy or had died by the sixth month following radiotherapy. Only one patient survived free of disease for more than two years. The reasons for this low control rate are discussed with suggestions for possible improvement.