The application of salvage surgery improves the quality of life and overall survival of extensively recurrent head and neck cancer after multiple operation plus radiotherapy

• DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1017630
• Publication Date: 2022-11-01T07:04:54Z
• Authors: Lirui Zhang; Qiaoshi Xu; Huan Liu; Bo Li; Hao Wang; Chang Liu; Jinzhong Li; Bin Yang; Lizheng Qin; Zhengxue Han; Zhien Feng
• Keywords: Salvage Surgery

The prognosis, choice of reconstruction and the quality life (QOL) after salvage surgery (SS) for extensively locoregional recurrent/metastatic head neck cancer (R/M HNC) is an important issue, but there are few reports at present. We analyzed R/M HNC patients from March 1, 2015, to December 31, 2021 who underwent SS with latissimus dorsi or pectoralis major musculocutaneous flaps. QOL were accessed using QLQ-H&N35 UW-QOL questionnaire. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used compare difference between pre- post-QOL Kaplan-Meier curves in estimate overall survival (OS) disease-free (DFS). literature review summarized recent 10 years clinical trials nonoperative treatment cancer. 1362 identified 25 screened. Median age 59 (range 43-77), 15/25(60%) male 22/25(88%) chose flap. Better mean pain score applying massive soft tissue flaps revealed relief severe pain(p<0.001) which strongly associated improvement QOL. improved a better QOL(p<0.001). As June 2022, 11/25 (44%) alive. 1-year, 2-year OS 58.4% 37.2%, while DFS 26.2% 20.9%. median our study than 11 included trials. can obtain benefit. application flap could significantly enhance HNC, especially by relieving pain.