Evolution of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of upper aerodigestive tract.
BACKGROUND
Local and regional recurrences are frequent in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract and early diagnosis is important for salvage treatment.


OBJECTIVE
To identify the period of highest risk for the development of recurrences after surgical treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract, in spite of radical therapy, in order to plan the follow-up for these patients.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, descriptive.


METHODS
Department of Head and Neck Surgery/Otorhinolaryngology, Heliópolis Hospital (Hosphel), São Paulo, Brazil.


METHODS
A review was made of the hospital records of 889 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract surgically treated between October 1977 and December 1996: 364 had oral cavity tumors, 107 had tumors of the oropharynx, 152 of the hypopharynx and 266, larynx tumors. The disease was stage I in 14 patients, stage II in 117, stage III in 352, stage IV in 397 and 9 patients were not staged.


METHODS
The interval between treatment and recurrence of disease was evaluated. The results were expressed as medians, quartiles (25% to 75%) and percentiles (10% to 90%). The annual incidence of recurrences and second tumors was calculated.


RESULTS
Seventy-four percent of the recurrences were diagnosed within 18 months post-treatment. The local and regional recurrences and distant metastases showed medians of 270, 210 and 435 postoperative days respectively. The incidence of a second primary tumor varied from 2 to 3.1% a year.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of recurrences occurred within 18 months after the initial surgical treatment. The incidence of a second tumor remained stable after the first post-treatment year.
Department of Head and Neck Surgery/Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Heliópolis, São Paulo, Brazil.
Ali
A
Amar
Sergio Altino
SA
Franzi
Abrão
A
Rapoport
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery