Postoperative radiotherapy for head and neck cancer with single positive node

Abstract

AbstractThe essential need for postoperative irradiation in people with carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract and limited metastatic nodal spread is controversial. An experience with postoperative radiotherapy in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients with one histologically positive cervical node is presented. Between 1976 and 2000, 37 individuals with confirmed metastatic disease in a single neck node underwent postoperative radiotherapy. The median follow-up period was 24 months. Among the 35 evaluable patients, the observed failure rates at the primary site, neck and distant location were 11%, 15% and 6%, respectively. The overall 5-year relapse-free survival rate was 60%. The relapse-free survival rate at 5 years was 86% in individuals who did not have additional histopathological risk factors and 55% in those patients who did (p = 0.46). The precise role of postoperative radiotherapy in people with HNC and documented metastasis in a single cervical lymph node remains to be defined including the identification of select individuals who may truly benefit from the combined therapy program.