title: Algorithm to predict postoperative complications in oropharyngeal and oral cavity carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preoperative data in patients with oral cavity/oropharyngeal cancer may predict postoperative complications that may modify therapeutic choices and improve patient care.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed 320 consecutive patients with oral cavity/oropharyngeal cancer, operated on 2003 through 2006 at the European Institute of Oncology. By multivariate analysis of preoperative patient and tumor characteristics, we developed an algorithm to predict postoperative complications. We tested the algorithm on a new series of 307 patients operated on 2007 through 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The final algorithm used to produce a nomogram was comprised of: alcohol consumption (p = .01), site of primary (p = .03), interaction of clinical T classification to sex (p = .007), and type of neck dissection (p < .0001). The algorithm had good ability to predict complications (concordance index [c-index] 0.74) in the new series.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The nomogram accurately predicts presurgical risk of postoperative local/systemic complications in patients with oral cavity/oropharyngeal cancer and can be used to adapt therapy to patient characteristics, optimize ward admissions, and improve care.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tagliabue
authors.forename: Maria Angela
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Massaro
authors.forename: Mohssen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ansarin
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.forename: Gioacchino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giugliano
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alterio
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cossu Rocca
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grosso
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plànicka
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benazzo
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiesa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D049451:Nomograms; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: hospital planning; major head and neck surgery; oral cavity cancer; oropharyngeal cancer; postoperative complications