PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - ZÄTTERSTRÖM, ULF
AU  - BOYSEN, MORTEN
AU  - EVENSEN, JAN FOLKVARD
TI  - Significance of Self-reported Symptoms as Part of Follow-up Routines in Patients Treated for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
DP  - 2014 Nov 01
TA  - Anticancer Research
PG  - 6593--6599
VI  - 34
IP  - 11
4099  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/34/11/6593.short
4100  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/34/11/6593.full
SO  - Anticancer Res2014 Nov 01; 34
AB  - Background: There is little evidence to prove that frequent out-patient consultations lead to better prognosis in patients treated for oral squamous cell carcinoma. Furthermore, there is no consensus regarding the timing and number of follow-up consultations or the duration of monitoring after completed therapy. Materials and Methods: We prospectively recorded demographic and clinical data of 537 patients treated over a period of 15 years with complete follow-up of 18 years in a tertiary academic Center. Results: Out of 537 patients considered free of disease after treatment, 196 (36%) developed recurrent disease during follow-up. Self-reported symptoms led to diagnosis of the recurrence in 78% of the cases. Only 22% of recurrences were detected through physical examination of asymptomatic patients. There was no difference in disease-free survival in-between these two groups. Conclusion: Follow-up routines are indispensable as part of cancer treatment but can be more cost-efficient when patients are educated and encouraged to report subjective symptoms. Trained personnel in collaboration with head and neck specialists can handle parts of follow-up routines.