Time to first relapse as an outcome and a predictor of survival in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Objective: To identify patterns and predictors of relapse and to deter-mine whether the time to relapse influences survival, Study Design: Multivariate analysis of prospective database, Methods: We present findings in 446 consecutive prospective patients from a regional cancer center with invasive squamous cell carcinoma who were treated for cure and were declared disease free. Time to relapse, site of relapse, and survival are reported by stage and site using bivariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Thirty-six percent of patients relapsed. The median time to relapse was 8.3 months, and 95% of relapses occurred within 3 years. T stage in the TNM staging system was associated with relapse, and N stage was not, In patients who relapsed before the median time to relapse, prognosis was worse than in those who relapsed after that time.