Performance data and survival in head and neck cancer.

A retrospective longitudinal investigation of 2701 patients extending from 1963 was conducted to study the effect of performance status on survival, locoregional recurrence and associations with host and tumour factors. It was found that those patients who are physically fit tended to have smaller tumours, less risk of neck node metastases and more chance of laryngeal cancer. In patients with advanced disease, locoregional recurrence did not appear to be more common in those with poor general condition but the death rate from the tumour appeared to increase as the general physical condition decreased. It is assumed this is due to the development of distant metastases. There is evidence that immunity is less well developed in those with poor general condition and this in turn, may be due to alcohol abuse and poor general nutrition.