Abstract
The oral cavity is the commonest subsite of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Because of the rising incidence and increasing survival, more patients will be enrolled in a routine follow-up program. This review gives an overview of the evidence and guideline recommendations concerning follow-up after oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). There is limited evidence concerning the effectiveness of follow-up after OSCC. This lack of evidence is reflected in a variation in guideline recommendations with respect to test interval and duration (i.e. for 3-5 years or lifelong). Most studies on the value of routine follow-up after curative treatment include all HNSCC subsites. The available literature shows, that these subsites have a different timing of recurrence and a different risk of second primary tumors at different locations. This leaves no rationale for applying the same follow-up program to each of the HNSCC subsites. There is agreement in the literature that OSCC follow-up can either be discontinued after two or three years or should be lifelong based on the risk of second primary tumors. Many authors advocate a personalized follow-up regimen that is based on the risk of new disease rather than a one-size-fits-all surveillance program. The literature is conflicting about the survival benefits of asymptomatic detection of new disease for HNSCC. To aid the development of evidence-based follow-up advise after OSCC, future research should focus on risk stratification, the value of symptom-free detection of recurrences and the active role that patients might play in determining their own follow-up regimen. (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 559-565 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | European Journal of Surgical Oncology |
Volume | 44 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 May 2018 |
Keywords
- Oral cancer
- Follow-up
- Posttreatment surveillance
- Head and neck cancer
- Second primary tumor
- Recurrence
- NECK-CANCER PATIENTS
- UPPER AERODIGESTIVE TRACT
- 2ND PRIMARY-CANCER
- POSTTREATMENT SURVEILLANCE
- SALVAGE SURGERY
- RECURRENT HEAD
- PRIMARY TUMORS
- PROGNOSTIC-FACTORS
- MALIGNANT-TUMORS
- CAVITY