SALVAGE SURGERY OF CERVICAL RECURRENCES AFTER NECK DISSECTION OR RADIOTHERAPY

A series of 113 patients operated on in the period 1980-1989 for a nec k recurrence from a head and neck cancer was studied. All patients had no other evidence of disease. The male/female ratio was 93/20, and th e median age was 58 years (range 28-87). Previous treatment consisted of surgery (SG) +/- radiotherapy (RT) in 81 patients (SG group) and on ly RT in 32 (RT group): 59 cases presented a relapse in the treated ne ck and 54 in the contralateral side. All but one contralateral recurre nces were in the SG group. Ten patients were lost to follow-up. The ob served 5-year survival rate of the whole series was 29.2% (95% confide nce interval, 0%-38%). Considering patients with ipsilateral recurrenc es, the 5-year disease-free survival rate was 38.7% (95% c.i., 28.7%-4 8.7%) and 27% (95% c.i., 18%-36%) for the SG and the RT group, respect ively. The 5-year disease-free survival rate after SG for contralatera l recurrences was 38.8% (95% c.i., 23.8%-53.8%). Dimension and mobilit y of the neck nodes were the only demonstrable prognostic factors.