title: Correlation between subjective evaluation of symptoms and objective findings in early recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study addresses the value of patients' reported symptoms as markers of tumor recurrence after definitive therapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the correlation between patients' symptoms and objective findings in the diagnosis of local and/or regional recurrences of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas in the first 2 years of follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective single-institution study of a prospectively collected database.
  
  
  METHODS
  Regional hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the clinical records of patients treated for oral cavity, oropharyngeal, laryngeal, and hypopharyngeal carcinomas between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2009, with a minimum follow-up of 2 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Correlation between symptoms and oncologic status (recurrence vs remission) in the posttreatment period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 101 patients included, 30 had recurrences. Pain, odynophagia, and dysphonia were independently correlated with recurrence (odds ratios, 16.07, 11.20, and 5.90, respectively; P < .001). New-onset symptoms had the best correlation with recurrences. Correlation was better between 6 to 12 and 18 to 21 months after therapy and in patients initially treated unimodally (P < .05). Primary stage and tumor site had no effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The correlation between symptoms and oncologic status is low during substantial periods within the first 2 years of follow-up. New-onset symptoms, especially pain, odynophagia, or dysphonia, better correlate with tumor recurrence, especially in patients treated unimodally.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hôpital de Sion, Centre Hospitalier du Centre du Valais/Réseau Santé Valais, Sion, Switzerland. llnisa@yahoo.ca
authors.forename: Lluís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nisa
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: La Macchia
authors.forename: Noureddine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boujelbene
authors.forename: Kishore
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sandu
authors.forename: Kaouthar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khanfir
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors