title: Pain preceding recurrent head and neck cancer.
abstract: Over a 7-year period, 12 patients experienced recurrence of primary head and neck cancers preceded by severe orofacial pain. Pain began within 6 months following treatment in 10 of 12 patients and was progressive in 11 of 12 patients. Six patients died from recurrence, five within 2 years following onset of pain. No clear indication of malignant disease was evident despite clinical examination, plain radiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography. Pain was often mistaken for denture irritation. Frequently, no area of irritation was apparent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Ontario Cancer Institute, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McLean
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013282:Stomatitis, Denture / Q000175:diagnosis