In this first article of the "Do You Know Your Guidelines" series, we review National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommendations and underlying evidence for the follow-up and surveillance of head and neck cancer survivors. The goals of follow-up and surveillance care are (1) to maximize long-term oncologic outcomes of therapy with appropriate evaluation for recurrence, (2) to maximize functional and quality of life outcomes, and (3) minimizing unnecessary and harmful low-value care. Finding the right balance of testing and surveillance is a challenge for providers and patients. Herein, we review all NCCN recommendations for head and neck cancer survivors. We pay particular attention to an area of controversy: the use of ongoing surveillance imaging, in particular, PET/CT scans.
Keywords: National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN); cancer survivorship; guidelines; head and neck cancer; multidisciplinary; surveillance.
© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.