Efficacy of current regular follow-up policy after treatment for head and neck cancer: Need for individualized and obligatory follow-up strategy.

Abstract

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to report the efficacy of routine follow?up after head and neck cancer treatment. MethodData for 520 patients with head and neck cancer registered with between 2002 and 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. ResultsThe mean ± SD follow?up period taken into account was 34.7 ± 22.8 months. The pickup rate for recurrence using our follow?up protocol in this cohort was 1 in every 79 visits (1.26%). High pickup rates were observed in patients older than 70 years and patients with advanced T classification, whereas low pickup rates were observed in patients who had received treatment including surgery. The only factor on multivariate analysis to influence follow?up visits was surgical treatment (p = .043). ConclusionIndividualized and obligatory follow?up policy is desirable considering various factors, especially age, T classification, and whether treatment modality includes surgery or not. ⓒ 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: 715?721, 2014