Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Iran: Clinico-Pathological and Treatment-Related Factors Influencing Survival

BACKGROUND Evidences about survival of the patients with head and neck squamous cell carsinoma (HNSCC) have been scant in our region. OBJECTIVES The aim of current study was to determine clinico-pathological and treatment-related factors, influencing outcome of these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS We have reviewed all patients with a new diagnosis of HNSCC admitted between 2008 and 2014 in "Jorjani Cancer Center", Tehran, Iran. Overall survival (OS) and event free survival (EFS) of the patients, and their relation with demographic and clinico-pathological factors have been analyzed. RESULTS Among 119 included patients, 90 were male and 29 were female with mean age of 58 years. Larynx was the most common primary tumor site (55% of all patients). With a median follow-up period of 28 months, OS and EFS of the study patients was 61.2% and 52.4%, respectively. Tumor stage was the only parameter has significantly influenced the patients' OS. Patients with normal BMIs had significantly higher mean EFS compared with patients with bellow or above normal BMIs. Surgical treatment modalities have resulted in the same prognosis as non-surgical approaches. CONCLUSIONS Our study seems to be the first that investigated outcome of Iranian patients with head and neck cancer and its influencing factors.