RSS-Feed abonnieren
![](/products/assets/desktop/img/oa-logo.png)
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1686047
Impact of postoperative target volumes in management of unilateral head and neck carcinoma of unknown primary: a retrospective study
Background:
We aimed to compare the outcomes of postoperative unilateral radiotherapy (UL-RT) versus bilateral radiotherapy plus total mucosal irradiation (COMP-RT) in management of head and neck carcinoma of unknown primary (HNCUP).
Materials and methods:
Retrospectively, 69 patients with unilateral HNCUP treated in 2 cancer institutes between 2004 and 2014 were included. Diagnosis work-up included for all patients a positron emission tomography-computed tomography. All patients were treated with curative intent by initial ipsilateral neck dissection. In one center, all 23 patients underwent UL-RT while in the other center, all 46 patients received a COMP-RT. The long-term quality of life (QOL) of the patient was evaluated using the Quality of Life Questionnaire for Head and Neck 35.
Results:
After a median follow up of 6.3 years, primary tumour emerged in 3 (13%) patients in UL-RT group and in 4 (9%) patients in COMP RT group (p = 0.68). There were no differences (p = 0.34) in cervical node recurrence rate between UL-RT group (4%) and COMP-RT group (22%). The locoregional recurrence free survival rate at 5-years was 81% in UL-RT group and 68.6% in COMP-RT group (p = 0.21). When comparing it with COMP-RT, UL-RT had a trend to an improvement of the QOL related to teeth problems, swallowing, troubles with social contact and use of pain killers.
Conclusion:
Unilateral postoperative radiotherapy provides similar outcomes as COMP-RT in unilateral HNCUP management. This radiotherapy modality seems to improve radiation morbidity and long term QOL of patients without compromising re-irradiation possibilities.
#
Publikationsverlauf
Publikationsdatum:
23. April 2019 (online)
© 2019. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Stuttgart · New York