Oncologic treatment landscape for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma : Treatment infrastructure in German-speaking countries.
BACKGROUND
The treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is highly complex and requires a multimodal approach. However, guidelines for the treatment of most forms of HNSCC do not exist in German-speaking countries with the exception of oral cavity cancer. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to describe the current treatment landscape and infrastructure in German-speaking countries.


METHODS
From November 2013 to July 2014, 204 departments of otorhinolaryngology (ORL) in Germany, Austria, and the German-speaking part of Switzerland were contacted and invited to take part in a web-based survey on the treatment of HNSCC. In order to cover the study in its entirety, we published three consecutive papers of which this paper is the first.


RESULTS
In all, 62 treatment centers (30.4 %) participated in the survey. These centers included 21 university hospitals, 16 certified cancer centers, and 35 large centers, which diagnose at least 75 HNSCC patients annually. In 91.9 % of all cases, there were outpatient consultation hours (that were monodisciplinary in 61.4 %). A multidisciplinary tumor board was existent in 98.4 % of the cases. Of 62 ORL departments, 50 had a hospital cancer registry, 41 of 62 conducted oncological studies, and 35 of 62 assessed their patients' quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
The infrastructure of the treatment for HNSCC can be considered mostly well-developed and supports interdisciplinary cooperation. Potential improvements can be made regarding the standardization of tumor boards, the participation in clinical trials, and the availability of cancer registries and the data gathered therein.
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Head & Neck Cancer Center Ulm, University Medical Center Ulm, Frauensteige 12, 89070, Ulm, Germany.
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Kimmeyer
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Head & Neck Cancer Center of the University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
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Kurzweg
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Head & Neck Cancer Center Ulm, University Medical Center Ulm, Frauensteige 12, 89070, Ulm, Germany.
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Hoffmann
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Head & Neck Cancer Center of the University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
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Knecht
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Head & Neck Cancer Center Ulm, University Medical Center Ulm, Frauensteige 12, 89070, Ulm, Germany.
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JA
Veit
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Head & Neck Cancer Center of the University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
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Möckelmann
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Head & Neck Cancer Center of the University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
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Münscher
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Head & Neck Cancer Center Ulm, University Medical Center Ulm, Frauensteige 12, 89070, Ulm, Germany. simon.laban@uniklinik-ulm.de.
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Laban
D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Germany; Guidelines; Otorhinolaryngology; Squamous cell carcinoma, head and neck; Treatment