Head and neck squamous cell cancers: need for an organised time-bound surveillance plan.
Optimal care of patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) involves a pre-determined period of post-treatment follow-up for the detection of recurrent or persistent disease, metastases and second primaries at the earliest opportunity. There is little evidence in literature as to whether the surveillance schemes should be based on patient survival, quality of life or cost-adjusted parameters. This article aims at highlighting some of the issues pertinent to the optimization of surveillance strategies in HNSCC.
Kazi
Rehan
R
Head and Neck Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, Fulham Road, London, SW3 6JJ, UK. rehan_kazi@yahoo.com
Manikanthan
Kapila
K
Pathak
K A
KA
Dwivedi
Raghav C
RC
D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D018307:Neoplasms, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D013997:Time Factors