Active clinical trials for "Head and Neck Neoplasms"

This study was designed to investigate the outcome of free-flap reconstruction surgery following head and neck cancer resection between primary and recurrent head and neck cancer patients.

Head and neck cancer would be suitable for quick diagnostic programs because their initial symptoms are easy detectable and the curation rates in the initial stages are very high. Actually the stages at diagnosis are about 30% in initial stages and 70% in advanced stages. The hypothesis of this study is that a program for quick referral of patients with symptoms of head and neck cancer would help early diagnosis.

This is an multicenter study for preventive and therapeutic strategies for patients with head and neck cancer

Hypothesis: Treatment for head and neck tumors often involve methods that affect the auditory system and cause hearing loss. Neck dissection negatively impacts the lymphatic drainage, chemotherapy uses ototoxic drugs, radiotherapy affects blood flow and tissue radiation is toxic to the ear and may lead to hearing losses of various types and degrees. Objective: To investigate occurrences of hearing loss and complaints among patients with head and neck tumors who underwent radiotherapy. Study design: Prospective, case-control study. Setting: Tertiary care center hospital. Subjects and Methods: 282 subjects were evaluated, 141 with head and neck tumors and 141 as an age-matched control group. The controls had never undergone oncological treatment that put their hearing at risk. All subjects underwent audiological evaluation, including the HHIE questionnaire, pure tone audiometry, speech audiometry and immittance audiometry. The radiation dose received by the auditory system was calculated based on the percentage of the external auditory canal included in the radiation field.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to obtain descriptive information about the nature and extent of body image concerns among surgical patients with head and neck cancer, satisfaction with care received regarding body image issues, and interest in psychosocial services targeting body image disturbance. Findings from this study provide important preliminary data to guide future large scale research on the critical, yet understudied, psychosocial issue of body image functioning for head and neck cancer patients. Information obtained from this study can specifically be used to facilitate the development of appropriate disease-specific body image instruments and to determine the need for body image focused psychosocial interventions to enhance quality of life and the survivorship experience for these patients. Primary Aims To characterize the nature and extent of body image concerns in surgically treated patients with head and neck cancer and determine preferences for psychosocial intervention. To compare body image and quality of life outcomes for patients at different time points relative to initiation of treatment. Specific time points of interest are pre-treatment, within one year of initial surgical treatment, and greater than 1 year following initial surgical treatment. Secondary Aim 1. To compare body image and quality of life outcomes for patients with oral cavity, cutaneous, and midface cancers.

The goal of this research study is to look at social and relationship factors that may affect the quality of life of patients with head and neck cancer and their spouses.

This study investigates the diagnostic value of PET/MRI for cervical lymph node metastases from head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Assess the sensitivity of real-time near-infrared fluorescence imaging to detect microscopic residual disease in the operating room after a complete macroscopic surgical resection of head and neck cancers

Background: Eating difficulty is one of the most common problems faced by head and neck cancer (HNC) patients and it might influence patients' general function and psychological function. Unfortunately, the eating difficulties in HNC patients are not fully understood due to limited research presented. Purposes: The study is a 2-year longitudinal following up research. The purpose of the study aim to (1) examine the characteristics and severity of eating difficulty, (2) identify factors related to the eating difficulty, and (3) short and long-term impact and correlation of eating difficulty on HNC patients' general physical condition and depression. Method: Eligible patient will be HNC patients receiving surgery and CCRT. Patients will be recruited and assessed in 6 time points: before first CCRT (T1) and 4weeks, 8 week, 12 week , 6 month, and 12 month from CCRT (T2~T6). Patients will be assessed nutrition status, body weight, fatigue severity, and grip power of the dominant hand, and depression. IRB and patient consents will be obtained before data collection. The descriptive and correlational analyses will be applied to analyze the data. The investigators plan to recruit 125 subjects. The longitudinal data will be analyzed by GEE to examine the changes of main variables and predictors of eating difficulty. Expected Outcome: The results of this study will provide evidence about HNC patients' eating difficulty. It will increase health care professionals' understanding about HNC patients' problems in eating difficulties, related factors and their relationship with general function. The investigators hope to further develop an intervention based on the results to enhance HNC patients' eating function.

The purpose of this study is to investigate if heterogeneity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma as seen in functional imaging with PET/MR can be correlated to biologic heterogeneity in surgical specimens.