Introduction: Although salvage surgery (SS) is considered the best curative choice in recurrent head and neck cancer, the identification of patients who can benefit the most from this treatment is challenging.
Methods: We systematically reviewed the prognostic role of pre- and post-surgery factors in patients undergoing SS for recurrent head and neck cancer (oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx).
Results: Twenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria out of 1280 screened citations. Pre-surgery factors significantly associated with worse overall survival were age>60 years, advanced initial stage, early recurrence, and regional recurrence; no heterogeneity between study emerged. Among post- surgery factors, worse survival emerged for positive surgical margins, extracapsular extension and perineural invasion.
Conclusion: The identification of pre-surgery factors associated with poor outcomes may help the selection of the best candidate to SS; alternative treatments should be considered for high-risk patients. Post-surgery predictors of worse prognosis may guide clinicians in tailoring patients' surveillance.
Keywords: Head and neck cancer; Oral cancer; Overall survival; Progression-free survival; Salvage surgery.
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