SEOM clinical guidelines for the treatment of head and neck cancer (2020)

Head and neck cancers (HNC) are defined as malignant tumours located in the upper aerodigestive tract and represents 5% of oncologic cases in adults in Spain. More than 90% of these tumours have squamous histology. In an effort to incorporate evidence obtained since 2017 publication, the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) presents an update of the squamous cell HNC diagnosis and treatment guideline. Most relevant diagnostic and therapeutic changes from the last guideline have been updated: introduction of sentinel node biopsy in early oral/oropharyngeal cancer treated with surgery, concomitant radiotherapy with weekly cisplatin 40 mg/m(2) in the adjuvant setting, new approaches for HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer and new treatments with immune-checkpoint inhibitors in recurrent/metastatic disease.

Automated summary

The updated guidelines from the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology for the diagnosis and treatment of squamous cell head and neck cancers include new approaches such as sentinel node biopsy, concurrent radiotherapy with weekly cisplatin in the adjuvant setting, new methods for HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer, and treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors for recurrent/metastatic disease.