Utility of positron emission tomography-computed tomography in identification of residual nodal disease after chemoradiation for advanced head and neck cancer.

Objectives: Planned neck dissection after chemoradiation (CR) is often advocated in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) with advanced nodal disease who demonstrate a clinical complete response to CR because identification of residual occult nodal disease is difficult. We sought to investigate the utility of positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) in identifying patients with occult nodal disease after CR.

Study Design: Nonrandomized retrospective cohort analysis.

Effect of comorbidity on quality of life and treatment selection in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Objectives: Comorbidity is significantly associated with diminished survival and quality of life (QOL) after treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We sought to determine whether comorbidity influenced pretreatment QOL scores and treatment selection in patients with HNSCC.

Methods: The medical records of all patients diagnosed with HNSCC who participated in pretreatment QOL analysis over a 15-month period were retrospectively reviewed.