Relation between age and head and neck cancer recurrence after surgery: a multivariate analysis.

Recent reports have described an increase in squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract in young adults. As the preponderance of epidemiologic data exists for the population between 50 and 70 years of age, controversy has developed regarding the clinical course of head and neck cancer in youth. Some authors advocate more aggressive management, calling attention to the lack of "classic" predisposing factors and suggesting genetic disorders or immunodeficiency. Basic science researchers have reported greater DNA fragility, sensitivity to carcinogens, and altered immune responses in young patients with carcinoma. To further elucidate the clinical aspects of this controversy, we performed a retrospective review using multivariate analysis to determine factors that affect recurrence. After screening 820 charts, 155 patients were found who met strict entrance criteria to the study. The patients were separated into five age groups, and 16 clinical variables were collected on each patient. Cox proportional hazards modeling revealed no significantly higher likelihood of recurrence in the 15- to 39-year-old age group. The model did find that metastatic adenopathy was predictive of recurrence (p = 0.034). The overall model further suggested a trend toward higher relative risk of recurrence in the middle-aged groups (p = 0.0541). In our review of the English biomedical literature, this is the first study to directly compare the outcome of young head and neck cancer patients with that of old patients using multivariate analysis. Future research is indicated in developing precise outcome predictions according to TNM staging, aneuploidy status, and DNA fragility in young patients. Efforts at limiting carcinogen exposure should continue.