Reirradiation of head and neck cancer: Long‐term disease control and toxicity. Issue 6 (6th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bots, Wouter T. C.; van den Bosch, Sven; Zwijnenburg, Ellen M.; Dijkema, Tim; van den Broek, Guido B.; Weijs, Willem L. J.; Verhoef, Lia C. G.; Kaanders, Johannes H. A. M.
• Is Part Of: Head & neck. Volume 39:Issue 6(2017)
• Page Start: 1122
• Page End: 1130
• Publication Date: 2017-03-06
• Subjects: reirradiation -- head and neck cancer -- intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) -- late toxicity -- disease control; Head -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neck -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Head -- Periodicals; Neck -- Periodicals; Face -- Periodicals; 617.51059
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.24733
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-3074

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: The purpose of this study was to report long‐term disease control and late radiation toxicity for patients reirradiated for head and neck cancer. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 137 patients reirradiated with a prescribed dose ≥45 Gy between 1986 and 2013 for a recurrent or second primary malignancy. Endpoints were locoregional control, overall survival (OS), and grade ≥4 late complications according to European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)/Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) criteria. Results: Five‐year locoregional control rates were 46% for patients reirradiated postoperatively versus 20% for patients who underwent reirradiation as the primary treatment ( p < .05). Sixteen cases of serious (grade ≥4) late toxicity were seen in 11 patients (actuarial 28% at 5 years). In patients reirradiated with intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), a borderline improved locoregional control was observed (49% vs 36%; p = .07), whereas late complication rates did not differ. Conclusion: Reirradiation should be considered for patients with a recurrent or second primary head and neck cancer, especially postoperatively, if indicated. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 1122–1130, 2017