title: Efficacy of current regular follow-up policy after treatment for head and neck cancer: Need for individualized and obligatory follow-up strategy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to report the efficacy of routine follow-up after head and neck cancer treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data for 520 patients with head and neck cancer registered with between 2002 and 2008 were reviewed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ± SD follow-up period taken into account was 34.7 ± 22.8 months. The pickup rate for recurrence using our follow-up protocol in this cohort was 1 in every 79 visits (1.26%). High pickup rates were observed in patients older than 70 years and patients with advanced T classification, whereas low pickup rates were observed in patients who had received treatment including surgery. The only factor on multivariate analysis to influence follow-up visits was surgical treatment (p = .043).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individualized and obligatory follow-up policy is desirable considering various factors, especially age, T classification, and whether treatment modality includes surgery or not.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Boramae Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Chang Myeon
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Joo Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Heejin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Wonjae
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: J Hun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hah
authors.forename: Tack-Kyun
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Kwang Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Myung-Whun
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Sung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011050:Policy Making; D057285:Precision Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods
keywords: follow-up; head and neck neoplasms; office visits; recurrence; salvage therapy