Surgical and cryosurgical salvage of oral and oropharyngeal cancer recurring after radical radiotherapy.

The results of salvage surgery or cryosurgery performed in 62 cases of oral or oropharyngeal cancer, recurring or persisting after radical radiotherapy, were analysed retrospectively. Salvage surgery was performed in 33 cases. The relatively high frequency of postoperative complications observed in years 1973-1984, has declined since 1985, concomitant with the introduction of myocutaneous flaps for reconstruction. Twenty-nine patients who were disqualified from major surgery, were treated by cryosurgery. Using both methods, 3-year overall survival was obtained in 24.1% of cases.