Clinical outcome analysis of 47 patients with advanced head and neck cancer with preoperative suspicion of carotid artery invasion.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyze the feasibility of the surgical management of the carotid artery in advanced head and neck cancer with preoperative suspicion of carotid artery invasion.

METHODS: A total of 47 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Twenty-one patients (44.7%) received surgery as initial treatment, and 26 patients (55.3%) had salvage surgical treatment for recurrences. Intraoperative dissection and preservation of the carotid artery was achieved in 39 patients (83%). Eight patients underwent carotid resection with/without reconstruction (17%).

RESULTS: The cumulative 2-year and 5-year overall survival rates were 40.4% and 34%, and the disease-specific survival rates were 59.5% and 55.3%, respectively. The overall perioperative mortality rate was 6.4%. Carotid blowout developed in 6 patients.

CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of the carotid artery in selected patients can provide locoregional control and the possibility of prolonged disease-free survival with acceptable morbidity. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E287-E292, 2016.