Outcome of carotid artery resection for neoplastic disease: a meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the neurologic morbidity and oncologic effectiveness of carotid resection in patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.


METHODS
A retrospective review of all published cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck treated by carotid resection was performed.


RESULTS
A major neurologic complication occurred in 17% of patients. Neurologic morbidity was not associated with the method of carotid artery reconstruction. Two-year disease-free survival was 22%. The majority of recurrences were local or regional. Comparison of survival of this group to a similarly staged control group demonstrated no significant difference in survival.


CONCLUSIONS
This review of the literature suggests that elective carotid resection achieves significant local/regional control of disease and that carotid artery involvement is not a poor prognostic factor in patients with advanced head and neck cancer.
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Eye & Ear Institute of Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
C H
CH
Snyderman
F
F
D'Amico
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000601:surgery*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome