[Preliminary experience in salvage treatment for advanced recurrent cancers of the head and neck]

Sixteen patients with far advanced recurrent malignancies (later than Stage IV) of the head and neck were treated with radical salvage surgery combined with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, laser and/or traditional Chinese medicine. The 2- and 3- year survival rates were 56.3% (9/16) and 37.5% (6/16), which were superior to 6.3% (1/16) and 6.3% (1/16) of similar patients who refused treatment. The authors are of the opinion that aggressive treatment should be attempted for patients with far advanced recurrent cancers of the head and neck.