Outcomes of salvage surgery for the oropharynx and larynx: a contemporary experience in a UK Cancer Centre

Abstract

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to review our recent experience of salvage surgery, comparing larynx and oropharynx recurrence patterns.

Methods

A single centre, retrospective review of salvage surgery for recurrent head and neck cancer including patients between 2008 and 2016.

Results

61 patients were identified, 36 underwent salvage laryngectomy and 25 received oropharyngeal resections. The median overall survival of oropharyngeal recurrent tumors was 26 months (95% CI 15–118 months) and for laryngeal tumors was 23 months (95% CI 11–38 months), p = 0.1008. There was a significant overall survival benefit in patients with negative resection margin. The median survival in the negative margin group was 38 months (95% CI 25–108 months) compared to the positive margin group, 9 months (95% CI 5–15 months), p < 0.0001.

Conclusion

Survival results following surgical salvage in the larynx and oropharynx appear to be similarly poor. Those patients with clear margins appear to have a significantly better prognosis.

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