Postoperative radiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Purpose: To discuss the role of postoperative radiation therapy (RT) for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Results: Patients with adverse pathologic features have a high likelihood of local-regional recurrence and a decreased probability of survival after surgery alone. Postoperative RT reduces the risk of local-regional failure and probably improves survival. Patients who are at high risk for recurrence after surgery benefit from more aggressive dose-fractionation schedules that may include altered fractionation to decrease the overall time from surgery to the completion of FIT. Adjuvant chemotherapy also appears to improve the probability of cure in high risk patients. Conclusion: Patients who have a high likelihood of local-regional recurrence after surgery have improved disease control and survival after postoperative RT.