OBJECTIVE: To determine whether chemoradiation (CX) is as effective as surgery with postoperative radiotherapy (SX) for operable, locally advanced head and neck cancer (LAHNC). METHODS: A retrospective review of 78 patients with operable stage III or IV cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract who were treated by CX (n = 25) or SX (n = 53) during a 20-year period was undertaken. RESULTS: Fewer patients relapsed regionally when treated by SX than by CX (p = 0.006). On the other hand, there was no significant difference in local recurrence, distant metastasis, 2-year survival rate, or 5-year survival rate between the two patient groups. CONCLUSION: Our results suggesting that CX is not as effective as SX for patients with operable LAHNC calls for a randomized trial comparing CX to SX in such cases.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether chemoradiation (CX) is as effective as surgery with postoperative radiotherapy (SX) for operable, locally advanced head and neck cancer (LAHNC). METHODS: A retrospective review of 78 patients with operable stage III or IV cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract who were treated by CX (n = 25) or SX (n = 53) during a 20-year period was undertaken. RESULTS: Fewer patients relapsed regionally when treated by SX than by CX (p = 0.006). On the other hand, there was no significant difference in local recurrence, distant metastasis, 2-year survival rate, or 5-year survival rate between the two patient groups. CONCLUSION: Our results suggesting that CX is not as effective as SX for patients with operable LAHNC calls for a randomized trial comparing CX to SX in such cases.
Authors: Michael T Spiotto; Gina Jefferson; Barry Wenig; Michael Markiewicz; Ralph R Weichselbaum; Matthew Koshy Journal: JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg Date: 2017-07-01 Impact factor: 6.223