Oncologic follow-up in head and neck cancer patients

Despite medical treatment according to evidence-based guidelines, approximately 25-30% of all head and neck tumor patients suffer a disease relapse, depending on tumor stage and entity. The primary goal of systematic follow-up examinations is early detection and treatment of recurrent tumors or metachronous secondary tumors, but it also serves to rule out distant metastasis. Secondary goals are the diagnosis and management of treatment-associated side effects to optimize quality of life. Because of an especially high relapse risk in the first 2 years after treatment, close-knit clinical controls are recommended, e.g., quarterly. Later on, the clinical control interval can be extended to 6 months. Cross-sectional diagnostic imaging of the primary tumor region is performed annually and when screening for possible distant metastases, or upon clinical suspicion of recurrence. After 5 years without tumor recurrence, the structured clinical follow-up is usually completed.