Changes in presentation and survival of XXXX in Northeastern Italy, 1975-1998.

@entity1 @entity135 @entity5 @entity189 @entity1544
BACKGROUND: During the last 20 years, survival rates of @entity135 @entity1 in the United States and Europe have plateaued. To determine the factors that can reduce mortality rates, we examined changes in clinical presentation and survival rates across 24 years of treatment of @entity135 @entity1 . METHODS: A retrospective study of @entity1 with @entity135 was conducted from January 1, 1975, to December 31, 1998. We identified 2143 eligible @entity1 with @entity1544 , oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx. Changes in gender, clinical stage, and therapy were evaluated separately for each site of @entity5 across five consecutive periods. Probability of dying and overall survival rates were estimated. Odds ratios (ORs) and hazard ratios were calculated. RESULTS: An increase in T1 versus T2 or higher stage @entity189 was more probable for the oral cavity and larynx (OR = 4.1 and 3.0, respectively) in the last versus the earliest period. An increase in radical treatments was more probable for @entity189 of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx (10.2, 34.8, 12.5, and 2.1-fold, respectively) in the last versus the earliest period. A decreasing trend of probability of dying from the first @entity135 during the 1970s versus the 1990s was found. The overall survival rates at 5 years was 32% in 1975-1978 versus 51% in 1989-1993. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast with survival rates in the United States and Europe, our findings show a significant increase in overall survival rates during the last 20 years. This increase is attributable to changes in diagnostic-therapeutic approaches and to early consultation with a physician for symptoms arising in the head and neck region.
