| A number of retrospective and prospective analyses have been performed in a continuous effort to maintain and improve the quality of surgical treatment of head and neck cancer. Prospective organ preservation studies include new radiation strategies and combination treatment of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In treatment planning there is often the choice between surgical treatment (with or without postoperative (chemo)radiation) and non-surgical treatment (radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy and salvage surgery in reserve). For optimal treatment planning reliable prediction of oncological and surgical outcome is of utmost importance. Current research is focused on prediction models using different techniques like imaging techniques (e.g., MRI and PET). For outcome of salvage treatment early detection and patient selection are important. Retrospective studies included detection of locoregional residual disease after chemoradiation and results of salvage surgery. Prospective studies include evaluation after (chemo)radiation using MRI and PET. Evaluation of the thyroid function after treatment for laryngeal cancer showed a high incidence of previously undiagnosed hypothyroidism and an association with anti-thyroid antibodies. A prospective study to determine the role of this auto-antibodies has been performed. Moreover, studies on quality of life improvement after substitution therapy and identification of risk factors are done. Complications, functional outcome (speech, swallowing and shoulder morbidity), quality of life, prognosis of different diagnostic and therapeutic techniques (including microvascular reconstructive surgery) were analysed. |
