Distant metastases in head and neck cancer patients who achieved loco-regional control.
BACKGROUND
One of the reasons for failure in patients with head and neck carcinoma who achieve locoregional control with treatment is the appearance of distant metastases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of distant metastases in this group of patients and to determine the relative role of several prognostic factors in the subsequent development of distant metastases.


METHODS
Retrospective study from a database that collects the information prospectively in a cohort of patients with head and neck carcinoma. Patients and Methods The study was carried out in 1244 patients with oral cavity, pharyngeal, or laryngeal carcinoma who achieved locoregional control. We evaluated the frequency of distant metastases and the influence of different variables in their appearance.


RESULTS
Five percent of patients with locoregional control had distant metastases. In the univariate study, the variables that influenced the appearance of distant metastases were tumor site, T stage, N stage, and histologic differentiation. On multivariate analysis, the variables that increased the risk of distant metastases were N stage, T stage, and the location of the tumor at the hypopharynx and the supraglottis.


CONCLUSIONS
Five percent of patients with oral cavity, pharyngeal, or laryngeal carcinomas who achieved locoregional control died as a consequence of the development of distant metastases. The factors that significantly increased the risk of distant metastases in this group of patients were the advanced local and regional extension of the tumor and the location at the hypopharynx or supraglottis.
León
X
X
Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Avda. San Antoni M(a) Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona Spain.
Quer
M
M
Orús
C
C
del Prado Venegas
M
M
López
M
M
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors