title: Noncutaneous head and neck cancer in solid organ transplant patients: single center experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated the incidence and survival of non-cutaneous head and neck cancer (HNC) after solid organ transplantation and identified prognostic factors impacting the outcome after treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent solid organ transplantation in our institution between 1987 and 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 5255 organ transplant patients, 48 recipients (0.9%) developed HNC in the posttransplant follow-up period. Liver transplant recipients showed the highest risk. Median follow-up of cancer patients was 46.7 months (range 2.9-256.2 months). Three-year overall survival and disease free survival (DFS) were 70% and 53%. Locoregional control was 67% and 48% at 3 and 5 years, respectively. Smoking and initial AJCC stage were two significant prognostic factors influencing DFS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-cutaneous HNC is rare in transplant recipients, but slightly more common after liver transplantation. Outcome after treatment is poor with locoregional recurrence being the main problem. Screening of high risk groups might be relevant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: Charlotte.nelissen@uzleuven.be.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nelissen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: Maarten.lambrecht@uzleuven.be.
authors.forename: Maarten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lambrecht
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: Frederik.nevens@uzleuven.be.
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nevens
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: Dirk.vanraemdonck@uzleuven.be.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Raemdonck
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: johan.vanhaecke@uzleuven.be.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vanhaecke
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: dirk.kuypers@uzleuven.be.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kuypers
authors.affiliation: Department of Abdominal Transplant Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: Jacques.pirenne@uzleuven.be.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pirenne
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: sandra.nuyts@uzleuven.be.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nuyts
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Head and neck cancer; Posttransplantation; Prognosis