Growth rate of head and neck tumors

Abstract The actual doubling time for 17 local recurrences of head and neck tumors was calculated by use of the method of Philippe and LeGal. The median value of 9.5 days placed them in the class of fast-growing tumors. Site and age did not seem to influence their growth; instead, they seemed to grow faster in females than in males. Comparison between doubling times of local recurrences and pulmonary metastases collected from the literature showed a statistically significant difference: pulmonary metastases grow slower.