Abstract
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare ipsilateral and bilateral adjuvant radiotherapy in patients with cancer of unknown primary (CUP) of the head and neck.
METHODS: Overall survival, recurrence-free survival, and radiation-induced side effects were assessed in 76 patients with CUP who underwent ipsilateral (n = 29) or bilateral (n = 47) radiotherapy.
RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 41 months, the 5-year overall survival and recurrence-free rate were 67.9% and 71.5%, respectively. No statistically significant difference between ipsilateral and bilateral radiotherapy could be found regarding 5-year overall survival, recurrence-free survival, occurrence of a primary tumor, and distant metastasis. The analysis of radiation-induced acute side effects showed a significant benefit of ipsilateral radiotherapy.
CONCLUSION: As the main parameters of the study regarding the outcome and radiation-induced side effects showed no advantages of bilateral radiotherapy, the strategy of ipsilateral radiotherapy can be recommended for the adjuvant treatment of CUP patients.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1785-1794 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Head and Neck |
Volume | 41 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2019 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Carcinoma/mortality
- Cohort Studies
- Female
- Head and Neck Neoplasms/mortality
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Neoplasms, Unknown Primary/mortality
- Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
- Survival Rate
- Treatment Outcome