Vascular interventions in head and neck cancer patients as a marker of poor survival

Head and neck cancer can involve the surrounding vasculature and require technically challenging vascular interventions. These interventions can be complicated by tumor invasion, history of prior surgery, and history of radiation therapy. Our aim was to examine patients with vascular interventions in association with head and neck cancer to determine outcomes and best practice.

We performed a retrospective review of cancer patients treated by head and neck surgery and vascular surgery between 2007 and 2014. Data concerning previous cancer treatment, operative details of head and neck surgery and vascular surgery, perioperative outcomes, and survival data were collected. Statistical analyses were performed using the χ² test, Student t-test, and binomial regression. Patency and survival data were determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis.

A total of 57 patients with head and neck cancer requiring vascular interventions were identified. Of these, 44 patients had squamous cell carcinoma, 4 had thyroid cancer, 3 had sarcoma, 2 had Merkel and basal cell carcinoma, and 1 each had a parotid tumor, paraganglioma, extrarenal rhomboid tumor, and malignant spindle cell neoplasm. The majority of the interventions (n = 36 [63%]) were performed on patients with recurrent or persistent malignancy despite prior treatment. The most common previous treatment was radiation therapy (n = 44 [77%]). Tumor resection and vascular intervention were performed concurrently in 26 patients (46%). The mean time between cancer treatment and vascular intervention was 37 months (range, 18 days-18 years). The most common indication for vascular intervention was bleeding (n = 21 [37%]), which included vessel rupture (n = 14), tumor bleeding (n = 5), and intraoperative bleeding (n = 2). The remaining indications for intervention included invasion/encasement of major vasculature (n = 25), stenosis/occlusion (n = 12), and aneurysm (n = 1). The most common intervention was stenting (n = 22 [41%]), followed by resection (n = 20 [35%]), exposure/dissection (n = 12 [22%]), bypass (n = 8 [15%]), and embolization (n = 3 [6%]). Of the 22 patients who were stented, 12 (55%) were placed electively (11 for stenosis and 1 for aneurysm) and 10 (45%) were placed emergently (6 for blowout and 4 for tumor bleeding). A total of six patients (11%) required reintervention after their index vascular procedure. There were no intraoperative mortalities. The 30-day mortality was 9% (n = 5). The 30-day stroke rate was 7% (n = 4; one s/p common carotid artery-internal carotid artery bypass and three with emergent intervention for vessel rupture). Primary patency at 1 year was 66% for stents and 71% for bypass (P = .604). Survival in those patients operated on emergently for bleeding at 1 year was 38%, with a trend toward worse survival compared with the 77% survival at 1 year for all other indications (P = .109). The overall survival in the cohort at 1 and 2 years was 62% and 44%, respectively.

Vascular involvement in head and neck cancer is a marker for poor survival. Any intervention performed in light of mass resection, persistent disease, and previous radiation complicates management. Minimally invasive techniques can be used with emergent bleeding but the survival benefits are marginal. Vascular interventions, including reconstruction, are feasible but should be approached with adequate expectations and multidisciplinary support.