Role of primary surgery for early-stage (T1-2N0) squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx

To evaluate treatment outcomes and the role of primary definitive surgery for T(1-2), clinically N(0) oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) patients, we performed a retrospective analysis of 46 consecutive cases treated primarily by surgery and/or postoperative radiotherapy at Yonsei University between May 1992 and December 2006. Twelve patients were T(1) and 34 were T(2). The most common location was the tonsil (54%), followed by the soft palate (19%), the base of the tongue (BOT) (15%) and the posterior wall (12%). Occult lymph node metastasis was noted in 12 cases (26%). Seventeen patients (37%) received adjuvant radiotherapy. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate (DSSR) was 83%: 100% for clinical stage I (T(1)N(0)) and 74% for clinical stage II (T(2)N(0)). The 5-year DSSR of patients with surgery alone was 86%. Thirteen of 14 patients (93%) treated with conservative surgery alone without mandible-splitting or adjuvant radiotherapy attained disease-free status. In addition, 25 of 40 patients (63%) with disease-free status were treated with surgery alone. Almost 30% of all patients may be candidates for adjuvant chemotherapy through histopathologic analysis according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2007) guidelines. The results of the present study demonstrate excellent oncologic outcomes with primary surgery for the treatment of early-stage OPSCC and suggest that surgery offers the best opportunity to identify patients in whom adjuvant radio- or chemotherapy may be most appropriately appliedope

Predictive factors of isolated distant metastasis after primary definitive surgery without systemic treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Incidence of isolated distant metastasis (IDM) was relatively low in patients who achieved locoregional control after primary definitive surgery. However, the prognosis of patients with IDM was dismal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of patients with IDM and identify independent predictive factors of IDM after primary definitive surgery for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). A retrospective data review was conducted for 795 patients who underwent primary definitive surgery without any systemic treatment for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, and hypopharynx. Distant metastasis-free survival was calculated and independent predictive factors for IDM were determined by Cox proportional-hazards model. For the entire study cohort, IDM developed in 75 patients (9.4%). Among 631 patients who achieved locoregional control, IDM occurred in 44 patients (7%). The median time to IDM after primary surgery was 13months, ranging from 2 to 70months. The overall salvage rate was 9% (4 of 44) after salvage treatment for IDM. In the Cox proportional-hazards model, clinical N status, and histological grade were independent predictive factors of IDM. Patients who had clinically palpable neck disease and a histologically poor grade were more likely to develop IDM after primary definitive surgery. Patients with these factors should be considered candidates for proper adjuvant systemic treatment and evaluated more thoroughly for early detection of IDM during follow-upope