Outcomes for patients referred to a head and neck cancer center

• Autor(a) principal: Lopes, Sonia
• Data de Publicação: 2014
• Outros Autores: Oliveira, Filipa, Costa, Eurico, Hebe, Ana, Montalvão, Pedro, Magalhães, Miguel
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: https://doi.org/10.34631/sporl.439
• topic: head and neck tumors; referral; advanced tumors; treatment; clinical outcomes; tumores da cabeça e pescoço; referenciação; estadio; tratamento; resultados clínicos

Head and neck cancer is related to high morbidity and mortality. Early referral is particularly important.We performed a retrospective study concerning all patients referred to the head and neck consultation of Lisbon’s Instituto Português Oncologia over the year of 2008.Most of the 454 patients observed were male (86%), with a mean age of 60 years. The most common cancer was laryngeal (36%), and most of the tumors (69%) were advanced. Surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy were used in 60% of patients. The average time elapsed between first appointment and treatment was 75 days. The overall 2-year survival rate was 66%.Most of our patients had advanced tumors at the time of referral. Despite the early beginning of treatment at our center, survival, loco-regional control and treatment options are compromised. Public health policies should be developed to improve public health education regarding head and neck cancer prevention and early referral.