Objective: Stomal recurrence following a temporary tracheostomy in the management of the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) without laryngectomy is a rare finding. We studied the incidence and prognostic significance of stomal recurrence in patients who had a temporary tracheostomy.
Methods: Data were obtained retrospectively from a database on all patients with a HNSCC tumour diagnosed and treated at our hospital between 1985 and 2012.
Results: Of 491 patients who underwent temporary tracheostomy, six presented tumour recurrence in the stomal scar. The risk of stomal recurrence after a temporary tracheostomy was therefore 1.2% (6/491). Only one of the three patients who received salvage treatment achieved disease control.
Conclusion: Tumour recurrence in the stomal scar after a transitory tracheostomy in patients with head and neck carcinoma has an incidence of around 1% and very poor prognosis.
Keywords: Head and neck carcinoma; Stomal recurrence; Tracheostomy; Tumour recurrence.
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