A New Approach to Survival Analysis of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common histological subtype of head and neck cancers. METHODS: In a retrospective longitudinal study, we assessed the risk of local or metastatic recurrence and death in 140 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Multivariate and shared frailty models were used for survival analysis with sex, primary tumor site, grade and stage of the tumor, and treatment modalities as contributing factors. RESULTS: The most frequent site for HNSCC was the oral cavity (30%), followed by the tongue (26.4%). For most primary sites, men were at nearly 2-fold higher risk of local recurrence than women, but there was no difference by sex in the risk of metastatic recurrence. Undifferentiated HNSCC was associated with a higher risk of local recurrence (nearly 4-fold) and metastasis (6–15-fold based on the primary site) than well-differentiated tumors. In early months after surgical resection alone, the risk of local recurrence was higher compared to other treatment modalities. There was a strong dependency between the risk of local and metastatic recurrence. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, men diagnosed with HNSCC, those with higher grade or advanced state tumor, and those treated by surgery alone are at higher risk of unfavorable outcomes than others and may need more frequent follow-up visits.