A Practical Approach to Diagnosing and Managing Advanced Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer

J Otolaryngol ENT Res 2017, 7(6): 00229 treatment options including supportive therapy. Literature regarding this topic is not extensive considering the fact that a significant number of squamous cell cancers of the head and neck recur. This is also rarely covered in conferences and major medical meetings as well. Head and neck cancer recurrence can be quite devastating to the patients and their families. Around 50 to 60% of stage III and IV head and neck cancers recur, which makes it more or less common condition faced by head and neck oncologic specialists [1,2]. The survival rate ranges between 15 and 40%. Survival time after local and regional recurrence is 6 to 9 months and 60% are due to local and regional recurrence [3,4]. 90% of the patients with metastases die from uncontrolled disease on the primary site or the neck [4].