title: Outcomes of patients with n3 neck nodes treated with chemoradiation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the outcomes of patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with N3 neck nodes treated with definitive chemoradiation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two patients with nonmetastatic locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and N3 neck disease treated with concurrent chemoradiation therapy were evaluated. Overall survival, disease- free survival, locoregional control, and distant control were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median follow-up for surviving patients was 25 (range, 3-93) months. Seventeen of 32 (53%) patients failed, 13 in distant sites only, 2 in the neck only, 1 in the neck and a distant site, and 1 in the neck and primary site. The absolute rates of locoregional control and distant control were 88% and 56%, respectively. Actuarial overall survival and disease-free survival at 2 years were 51% and 29%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with N3 neck disease treated with chemoradiation experience a very high rate of distant failure. Future studies investigating the role of additional systemic therapy in these patients are warranted.
authors: Departments of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado 80045-1665, USA.
authors: Ari
authors: A
authors: Ballonoff
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Raben
authors: Kyle E
authors: KE
authors: Rusthoven
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Bassetti
authors: Madeleine
authors: M
authors: Kane
authors: John I
authors: JI
authors: Song
authors: Changhu
authors: C
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome