Elucidating survival and functional outcomes in patients with primary head and neck malignancies treated in academic versus community settings

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-1-2024

Publication Title

Head & neck

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Differences in treatment outcomes between community or academic centers are incompletely understood.

METHODS: Retrospective review of head and neck cancer patients between 2010 and 2020 in a rural health region. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests were used to evaluate survival outcomes, along with bivariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. Linear regression was used for functional outcomes of tracheotomy and gastrostomy tube dependence.

RESULTS: Two hundred and forty-eight patients treated at an academic center were compared with 94 patients treated in community centers. In multivariable analysis, the risk of death (HR = 0.60, p = 0.019), and risk of recurrence were lower (HR = 0.29, p < 0.001) for patients treated in academic centers. Patients treated in community centers had longer gastrostomy tube dependence (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that treatment at an academic center was associated with a lower risk of recurrence and shorter gastrostomy tube dependence compared to treatment in the community.

Medical Subject Headings

Humans; Chemoradiotherapy; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Retrospective Studies; Gastrostomy; Treatment Outcome

PubMed ID

38087455

ePublication

ePub ahead of print

Volume

46

Issue

2

First Page

398

Last Page

407

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