Survival of patients with palliative head and neck cancer.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to describe patient characteristics and prognostic factors for survival in the palliative stage of patients with head and neck cancer.


METHODS
Since November 2003, all patients with palliative head and neck cancer treated in our hospital have been recorded in a central database. In total, 262 deceased patients were included in this retrospective study.


RESULTS
The reasons for palliation were inoperability, distant metastases, refusal of curative treatment, or poor condition. The mean palliative phase lasted 5.3 months for patients with squamous cell carcinomas. Involvement of a specialized nurse was significantly related with the number of admissions and place of dying. Multivariate analysis showed comorbidity and treatment to be independent predictors of survival in the palliative phase.


CONCLUSIONS
Comorbidity and palliative interventions are possible prognostic factors for survival. The involvement of a specialized nurse might be associated with an improved quality of life.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. q.ledeboer@havenziekenhuis.nl
Quirine C P
QC
Ledeboer
Marc P
MP
van der Schroeff
Jean F A
JF
Pruyn
Maarten F
MF
de Boer
Robert J
RJ
Baatenburg de Jong
Lilly-Ann
LA
van der Velden
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010166:Palliative Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D016019:Survival Analysis