title: Outcomes following reirradiation of patients with head and neck cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study reports the outcomes for patients with head and neck cancer who received reirradiation with palliative or curative intent.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of 41 patients treated with curative (n = 28) or palliative (n = 13) reirradiation was conducted. Survival was calculated from the start of the reirradiation. Radiation-related toxicities were classified according to Radiation Therapy Oncology Group criteria. Disease-related problems included adverse events during or after reirradiation that were not directly related to reirradiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The observed 1-year survival for all patients was 39.0% (23.0% palliative, 46.3% curative). Median survival for all patients was 10.2 months. Seventy-five percent of curative and 53.8% of palliative patients had grade 3 or 4 radiation-related toxicities and/or major disease-related problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A second course of radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer should be offered with a clear understanding that survival is poor and many of these patients will suffer severe radiation-related or disease-related insults to their quality of life during and after treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: Lucy Hynds
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Karnell
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: G Parker
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Chamberlin
authors.forename: Thanh X
authors.initials: TX
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Gerry F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Funk
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010166:Palliative Care; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D019233:Retreatment / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome