title: European Laryngological Society: ELS recommendations for the follow-up of patients treated for laryngeal cancer.
abstract: It is accepted that the follow-up of patients who had treatment for laryngeal cancer is a fundamental part of their care. The reasons of post-treatment follow-up include evaluation of treatment response, early identification of recurrence, early detection of new primary tumours, monitoring and management of complications, optimisation of rehabilitation, promotion smoking and excessive alcohol cessation, provision of support to patients and their families, patient counselling and education. Controversies exist in how these aims are achieved. Increasing efforts are being made to rationalise the structure and timing of head and neck cancer follow-up clinics. The aim of this document is to analyse the current evidence for the need to follow up patients who have been treated for LC and provide an up to date, evidence-based statement which is meaningful and applicable to all European Health Care Systems. A working group of the Head and Neck Cancer Committee of the ELS was constituted in 2009. A review of the current published literature on the management and follow-up of laryngeal cancer was undertaken and statements are made based on critical appraisal of the literature and best current evidence. Category recommendations were based on the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. Statements include: length, frequency, setting, type of health professional, clinical assessment, screening investigations, patient's education, second primary tumours, and mode of treatment considerations including radiotherapy, chemo-radiation therapy, transoral surgery and open surgery. It also addresses specific recommendations regarding patients with persistent pain, new imaging techniques, tumour markers and narrow band imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK, ricard.simo@gstt.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Ricard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Simo
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chevalier
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dikkers
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eckel
authors.forename: Nayla
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matar
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peretti
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piazza
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Remacle
authors.forename: Miquel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quer
mesh_terms: D003376:Counseling; D019468:Disease Management; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000379:methods; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration