Quality Assessment Across Disciplines in Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

Head and neck cancer is often a very complex and difficult cancer to treat, both because of the characteristics of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), and the impact physically and mentally on the patient due to location and the treatment side effects. With many centers treating HNSCC, it is imperative that the quality of treatment of HNSCC is closely monitored and evaluated to ensure that patient outcomes are as positive as possible. Quality assurance of care should be irrelevant of where the cancer is diagnosed or treated. In this article collection, we will review the following areas for current best practice guidelines and possible areas of improvement:

• Diagnostic tumor markers in HNSCC in the clinical setting
• Diagnostic imaging in HNSCC
• Diagnostic pathology in HNSCC
• Best practice in surgical treatment of HNSCC
• Evidence for best practice chemotherapy treatment of HNSCC
• Best practice in Radiation treatment for HNSCC
• Follow up – how often and what should we check for?
• Supportive care in HNSCC
• The multidisciplinary team
• Impact on the guidelines – should there be a more centralised treatment plan of HNSCC?
• The statistical analysis of HNSCC treatment and outcomes