PROGNOSTIC FACTORS FOR HEAD AND NECK TUMOR RECURRENCE

The introduction of new treatment methods has stimulated the identific ation of further prognostic factors capable of defining the clinical a nd biological characteristics of the tumor type in question and improv ing treatment programming. The aim of this study was to identify which characteristics of the host and tumor are of prognostic value in rela tion to the onset of locoregional tumor recurrence. A total of 396 pat ients were studied. The tumor site distribution can be summarized as f ollows: 267 laryngohypopharyngeal, 74 oropharyngeal, 55 oral cavity. V ariables regarding patient, tumor and histology were evaluated for the purpose of analysis. Multivariate analysis of these prognostic factor s was performed using PLR software by BMDP. Mean tumor recurrence time was 19 months. Seventeen of the 29 variables anlysed did not influenc e the probability of tumor recurrence. Two variables reduced the risk of tumor recurrence: age > 61 years and abundant and prevalently lymph ocytic intra- and peritumoral infiltrate. The study of tumor recurrenc e onset mechanisms is justified by its impact on the evolution of dise ase. The use of multivariate analysis in this study showed that some c linical and pathological characteristics of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck have a statistically significant impact on tumor re currence.