Surveillance of Regional Nodal Basins in Patients With Primary High Risk Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

The registry criteria, word for word

What the trial wants to find out

In this prospective cohort study, investigators will conduct ultrasound surveillance of the nodal basins of patients with head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) whose tumors are considered high risk and staged by the Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) tumor staging system. The study will enroll patients with tumors staged T2a and who are also immunosuppressed (from solid organ transplant, hematologic malignancy or autoimmune disease), T2b (sentinel lymph node negative), and T3 (sentinel lymph node negative). After two years of surveillance, outcomes regarding local recurrence, nodal metastasis, disease specific death, and overall survival will be compared with historical controls with the overall hypothesis that ultrasound surveillance will detect subclinical disease earlier and help improve outcomes.

The 3 groups in the trial

• BWH stage T2a tumors in patients who are on chronic immunosuppression

  Patient's whose cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is BWH stage T2a and also have a history of organ transplant, hematologic malignancy, autoimmune disease. After these participants are diagnosed, the participants are entered into the study without any further imaging or sentinel lymph node biopsy. The participants will have ultrasound surveillance every 6 months and regular visits every 3 months throughout the duration of the study (2 years).

  Treatment: Ultrasound

• BWH stage T2b

  Participants whose cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is BWH stage T2b. Participants will initially undergo CT imaging of the nodal basin immediately after diagnosis. If the CT is positive, the participants will be excluded from the study. If the CT is unremarkable, patients will undergo sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), which has a higher sensitivity to detect occult micro-metastases. If the SLNB is negative, the participants are entered into the study. The participants will have ultrasound surveillance every 6 months and regular visits every 3 months throughout the duration of the study (2 years).

  Treatment: Ultrasound

• BWH stage T3

  Participants whose cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is BWH stage T3. Participants will initially undergo CT imaging of the nodal basin immediately after diagnosis. If the CT is positive, The participants will be excluded from the study. If the CT is unremarkable, patients will undergo sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), which has a higher sensitivity to detect occult micro-metastases. If the SLNB is negative, the participants are entered into the study The participants will have ultrasound surveillance every 6 months and regular visits every 3 months throughout the duration of the study (2 years).

  Treatment: Ultrasound