title: Current concepts of surveillance and its significance in head and neck cancer.
abstract: Follow-up in head and neck cancer (hNC) is essential to detect and manage locoregional recurrence or metastases, or second primary tumours at the earliest opportunity. A variety of guidelines and investigations have been published in the literature. This has led to oncologists using  different guidelines across the globe. The follow-up protocols may have unnecessary investigations that may cause morbidity or discomfort to the patient and may have significant cost implications. In this evidence-based review we have tried to evaluate and address important issues like the  frequency of follow-up visits, clinical and imaging strategies adopted, and biochemical methods used for the purpose. This review summarises strategies for follow-up, imaging modalities and key investigations in the literature published between 1980 and 2009. A set of recommendations is also  presented for cost-effective, simple yet efficient surveillance in patients with head and neck cancer.
authors: Grant Medical College, Mumbai, India.
authors: Kapila
authors: K
authors: Manikantan
authors: Raghav C
authors: RC
authors: Dwivedi
authors: Suhail I
authors: SI
authors: Sayed
authors: K A
authors: KA
authors: Pathak
authors: Rehan
authors: R
authors: Kazi
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009819:Office Visits / Q000191:economics; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor