Re-irradiation for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Local recurrences after curative treatment have a potential for cure with salvage surgery or with re-irradiation.


METHODS
We reviewed the PubMed for articles published in English with key words squamous cell carcinoma, recurrent, re-irradiation, prognostic factors to find relevant articles describing prognostic factors, re-irradiation, and outcome for recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.


RESULTS
Various factors including age, performance status, time for recurrence, previous radiation dose volume and site of recurrence, previous use of chemotherapy are all prognostic factors in recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Surgery is feasible in very select subgroup of patients and must be done when feasible. Re-irradiation with the aid of modern sophisticated technology is safe and confers durable and clinically meaningful survival benefit. Re-irradiation in head and neck recurrent squamous cell carcinoma may provide an expected median survival of 10-12months. Chemotherapy may be added along with radiation in the recurrent setting.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment approaches may have to be personalized. Re surgery must be done in all patients in whom it is feasible. In patients in whom surgery is not feasible, re-irradiation must be evaluated as a therapeutic option especially in patients with limited volume recurrence.
Department of Radiation Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Rony
R
Benson
Department of Radiation Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Prashant
P
Giridhar
Department of Radiation Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Bhanu Prasad
BP
Venkatesulu
Department of Radiation Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. Electronic address: drsupriyamallick@gmail.com.
Supriya
S
Mallick
Department of Radiation Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Mohd Waseem
MW
Raza
Department of Radiation Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Goura Kishor
GK
Rath
D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000209:etiology; D058958:Organs at Risk; D018579:Patient Selection; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D000069475:Re-Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D012008:Recurrence; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Re-irradiation; Recurrent; Squamous cell carcinoma; Toxicity