title: Radiofrequency ablation of advanced head and neck cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if the application of radiofrequency ablation to advanced head and neck cancer (HNC) would result in local control of the tumor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Radiofrequency ablation was applied to advanced head and neck malignant tumors in the participants of this nonrandomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic tertiary care medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one participants with recurrent and/or unresectable HNC who failed treatment with surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy were selected for the trial. Patients deemed appropriate for curative standard radiation or surgery were not accepted as participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Radiofrequency ablation was applied to head and neck tumors under general anesthesia and computed tomographic scan guidance.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary end point was local control. Computed tomographic scan tumor measurements were used to assess response by standard response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) guidelines. Secondary outcome measures included survival and quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight of 13 participants had stable disease after intervention. Median survival was 127 days, and an improvement in University of Washington quality-of-life scores was noted. Adverse outcomes included 1 death due to carotid hemorrhage and 2 strokes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiofrequency ablation is a palliative treatment alternative that shows promise in addressing the challenges of local control and quality of life in patients with incurable HNC who have failed standard curative treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 5 E 98th St, Box 1259, New York, NY 10029, USA. randall.owen@mountsinai.org
authors.forename: Randall P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.forename: Sajid A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Abdissa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Negassa
authors.forename: Jonathan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Beitler
authors.forename: Jacqueline A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bello
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brook
authors.forename: Joaquim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Farinhas
authors.forename: Madhur K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.forename: Missak
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haigentz
authors.forename: Todd S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Melody S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Thanjuvar S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Ravikumar
authors.forename: Keivan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shifteh
authors.forename: Richard V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Carl E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Silver
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011788:Quality of Life; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome