Squamous carcinoma of the head and neck: the untreated patient

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Abstract
A total of 1977 patients with squamous carcinoma of the head and neck are reviewed with particular reference to the patients not treated. The most common reason for not treating the patients was that the tumor was too extensive (55%). A further 36% were too old or infirm to be considered fit for radical treatment; 9% of patients refused treatment. Treated and untreated patients were compared for age, sex, site of the primary and TNM [tumor, node, metastasis] stage. The proportion of patients untreated varied according to site of the primary tumor, with 25% of pharyngeal tumors being the highest proportional representation. Median survival for untreated patients was 88 days; survival time was significantly related to sex, T stage of primary tumor and patient''s general condition.