Non-curative treatment of patients with oral tongue squamous-cell carcinoma

Abstract

<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Late-stage OTSCC is associated with poor overall survival (OS). Non-curative treatment approach aims to improve quality of life and prolong survival of patients deemed incurable. The purpose of this study was to investigate the used non-curative treatment modalities for OTSSC and patient survival.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>All patients diagnosed with OTSCC and treated with non-curative intent at the HUS Helsinki University Hospital (Helsinki, Finland) during the 12-year period of 2005–2016 were included. Survival analysis after the non-curative treatment decision was conducted using the Kaplan–Meier method in this population-based study.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Eighty-two patients were identified. A non-curative treatment decision was made at presentation without any previous treatment in 26 patients (7% of all patients diagnosed with OTSCC during the study period). Palliative radiotherapy was administered to 24% of all patients. The average survival time after the non-curative treatment decision was 3.7 months (median 2 and range 0–26).</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Due to the short mean survival time after decision for treatment with non-curative intent, and the notable symptom burden in this patient population, a prompt initiation of all non-curative measures is warranted.</p></div>