Do positive resection margins after ablative surgery for head and neck cancer adversely affect prognosis? A study of 352 patients with recurrent carcinoma following radiotherapy treated by salvage surgery.

摘要: It is generally accepted by surgeons that failure to eradicate malignant disease at the primary site has an adverse effect on survival. The present study investigates 352 patients with squamous carcinoma of head and neck treated radical radiotherapy who subsequently underwent surgical ablation for a recurrent carcinoma. A total 303 (86%) had negative resection margin 49 (14%) positive margin. Oral was 1.7 times more likely be associated than other tumours (P = 0.0292). Actuarial calculations demonstrated 47% margins 66% developed recurrence 0.0286). Neck node occurred in 10% those 12% margins. Patients significantly poorer survival 0.022). Multivariate analysis failed confirm any independent from 5 year tumour-specific pattern differed between two groups, having tending die local recurrence.