Postoperative follow-up strategy in @entity1 with XXXX .

@entity1 @entity957 @entity5 @entity3
PURPOSE: The duration of follow-up after treatment of @entity957 and the frequency of routine visits are based on common usage rather than evidence-based practice. The purpose of this study was to determine the appropriate postoperative routine follow-up program in @entity1 with @entity957 . @entity1 AND METHODS: Three hundred four cases treated curatively mainly by surgery at Tokai University Hospital from 1994 to 2004 were analyzed. A secondary event was defined as a local recurrence, a regional recurrence, a distant @entity3 , or a second @entity5 . To evaluate the follow-up program, data on the first @entity5 recurrence or first second @entity5 in the head and neck region or elsewhere in the body were used. Overall survival rate, disease-specific survival rate, relapse-free rate, and cumulative risk of developing a second @entity5 were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier product limit method. RESULT: All relapse cases were detected within 3 years postoperatively, of which 86.3% were detected within 1 year. Most relapses were in the neck, and regional recurrences had a dismal salvage rate. Second @entity5 were constantly detected 1 to 10 years postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Follow-up should be performed more frequently in the first year, with 2 weekly follow-ups with monthly ultrasound examinations, and should be continued after 3 years to exclude the development of second @entity5 .
