Surgery in the Management of Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas suffer a high rate of recurrent and residual disease after primary treatment, and in such cases, salvage surgery is often the only curative management option available to patients. Salvage procedures are associated with high rates of complications, as well as reduced survival rate and poor function postoperatively, and there are a number of factors a surgeon must consider to optimize outcomes after surgery. This article discusses preoperative management, prognostic indicators, and rehabilitation needs of this patient population, in addition to discussing the evidence base of transoral, open, and reconstructive techniques employed in salvage operations.