Surgical rescue for persistent head and neck cancer after first-line treatment

PURPOSE: Surgical rescue is a treatment option for persistent disease after first-line treatment treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC). METHODS: Patients with persistent HNC treated with rescue surgery between 2008 and 2016 were included. Patients who received a rescue neck dissection (ND only) and who received primary site surgery ± ND were analysed separately (primary site surgery ± ND). RESULTS: During the observation period, 35 patients received ND only and 17 primary site surgery ± ND. No perioperative mortality was observed. In nine patients with ND only and 12 patients with primary site surgery ± ND at least one complication was encountered. 41/52 (79%) patients had a complete response. Median overall survival of patients receiving rescue surgery was 56 months (95% CI 44–69 months). Median overall survival was best for patients with initial laryngeal and oropharyngeal cancer and worst for patients with hypopharyngeal cancer (p = 0.02). Functional deficits following rescue surgery were mainly observed in the domains speech, nutrition, and shoulder/arm mobility. The risk of functional impairment was higher for patients with rescue surgery at the primary tumor site (OR 2.5 ± 2; p = 0.07). CONCLUSION: Rescue surgery offers patients with resectable, persistent disease a realistic chance to achieve long-term survival. Especially patients with laryngeal and oropharyngeal cancer profited from rescue surgery. Rescue neck dissection is an effective and safe procedure. Patients with rescue surgery at the primary tumor site ± ND should expect complications and permanent functional impairment. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s00405-020-05807-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.