Aim: To assess the influence of hemoglobin (Hb) levels in locally advanced head and neck cancer (LAHNC) patients treated with surgery and postoperative radiotherapy (PORT).
Material and methods: Pre- and postoperative Hb levels were collected in 79 patients treated with surgery followed by accelerated PORT for LAHNC. Median follow-up was 52 months (range 12-95 months).
Results and discussion: Four-year overall survival (OS) rate was 51%. Neither pre- nor postoperative Hb level (<120 or 130 g/l in women or men, respectively) influenced the outcome. However, when Hb decrease between pre- and postoperative Hb values was taken into account, 4-year OS was significantly higher in patients with Hb difference less than 38 g/l (quartile value) compared with those with Hb decrease 38 g/l or more (61% versus 16%, P = 0.008).
Conclusion: Decrease in Hb level by more than 38 g/l after surgery secondary to blood loss influences the outcome when postoperative RT is indicated.