Postoperative radiotherapy is associated with improved survival in pT1-2N1 oral and oropharyngeal cancer without adequate neck dissection

Abstract Background To assess the benefit of postoperative radiotherapy in patients with pT1-2N1M0 oral and oropharyngeal cancer by quality neck dissection. Methods In Surveillance, Epidemiology, End Results database, treated primary tumor resection dissection or without were included between 2004 2015. Univariate multivariate analysis used to explore effect adjuvant on 5-year overall survival (OS) disease-specific (DSS) among different Of 1765 identified, 1108 (62.8%) had cancer, 1141 (64.6%) men, 1067 (60.5%) underwent radiotherapy. After adjusting for confounding factors, reduced adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) OS 0.64 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.49–0.84) those < 18 lymph nodes (LNs) removed, but not 19–24 LNs removed (aHR 0.78; 95% CI 0.73–1.13), ? 25 0.96; 0.75–1.24). For DSS, similar was observed. The 0.66 interval, 0.45–0.97) LNs. protective seen 18–24 1.07; 0.59–1.96), 1.12; 0.81–1.56). Sensitivity testing also showed a robust removed. Conclusion Radiotherapy associated improved adequate