Head and Neck Verrucous Carcinoma: A European Multicenter Retrospective Study
Anne‐Sophie Schrooyen, Luigi Angelo Vaira, Paolo Boscolo‐Rizzo, Aina Brunet, Antonio Marí, Alberto Maria Saibene, Florent Carsuzaa, Linda Spinato, Alexandra Rodriguez, Stephane Hans, Antonino Maniaci, Carlos M. Chiesa‐Estomba, Giovanni Briganti, Dider Dequanter, Jerome R. LechienABSTRACT
Background
We characterized oncological outcomes of head and neck verrucous carcinomas (HNVC) and explored treatment‐associated outcomes.
Methods
Medical records of 106 HNVC patients (1994–2024) were reviewed, analyzing clinical history, tumor characteristics, treatment modality, and outcomes.
Results
Among 106 patients, 101 underwent surgery. Five‐year overall survival and recurrence‐free survival were 82.2% and 85.3%, respectively. Cox regression identified age ≥ 65 years as significantly increasing recurrence risk (HR = 5.989; 95% CI 2.02–17.77), while tobacco consumption decreased risk (HR = 0.309; 95% CI 0.12–0.81). Clinical T stage influenced recurrence: cT2 (HR = 0.22), cT3 (HR = 1.366), cT4 (HR = 1.525). Compared with local resection, partial organ resection (HR = 0.841) and total organ resection (HR = 0.501) showed lower recurrence rates.
Conclusion
HNVC demonstrates excellent five‐year survival. Surgery remains the primary treatment, with wider resections significantly reducing recurrence risk, emphasizing the importance of achieving clear margins for durable local control.