When is surgical therapy for head and neck malignant epithelial tumors not indicated?

Abstract

outcome weighed against the best quality of life and functional outcomes after treatment.In the interest of optimal patient care, we examine the reasons for recommending non-surgical therapies for certain epithelial cancers of the head and neck. Generally, the usual indications for choice of non-surgical rather than surgical treatment are (1) for certain histological tumor types that respond well to non-surgical treatments, (2) advanced locoregional disease impossible to extirpate completely or without producing an unacceptable functional outcome, The choice of primary treatment of malignant tumors of the head and neck, surgical or non-surgical, depends on factors such as tumor type, site and locoregional extension; the presence of distant metastases; available facilities, personnel and experience of the treating center; and patient factors like comorbidity. Moreover, the choice of treatment modalities is based on the expected optimal oncologic