Cryosurgical treatment of recurrent head and neck malignancies — a comparative study

Abstract

ABSTRACT.Fifty-seven cases of recurrent head and neck malignancies unsuitable for further X-ray or surgery were treated with cryosurgery. The cases were divided into two groups: a symptomatic group of 21 cases treated only when symptoms became severe and an asymptomatic group of 36 cases treated early in an effort to produce significant prolongation of life. In the symptomatic group, pain relief was obtained in 7 of 8 patients (86.5 percent) and symptoms related to tumor bulk were relieved in 11 of 13 patients (84.6 percent). Thirty-six asymptomatic cases treated at the time recurrence was first diagnosed, showed a definite trend of increased survival when compared with matched cases treated prior to the advent of cryosurgery.