Upper aerodigestive tract bleeding in head and neck - a tertiary Center Reality
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34631/sporl.3145Keywords:
tumor hemorrhage, squamous cell carcinoma, head and neck cancerAbstract
Objective: To characterize hospital admissions due to tumoral hemorrhage from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in a tertiary center.
Study design: Retrospective.
Material and Methods: Review of clinical files with a diagnosis of oral cavity hemorrhage (ICD 10 R04.1) associated with head and neck SCC, from 2018 to 2023.
Results: 36 admissions were analyzed. The most frequent tumor location was the oropharynx (61%). Most of the tumors were stage IV (89%). 50% of patients had undergone CRT. With regard to hemostasis treatment, 17% received local measures; 14% also required systemic antifibrinolytic therapy; in 36% tamponade was performed. Surgical hemostasis was required in 17% of episodes and 11% underwent hemostatic radiotherapy. 25% needed emergent tracheostomy.
Conclusions: Factors such as oropharyngeal tumor location, stage IV and previous CRT were prevalent in patients requiring hospitalization for tumor hemorrhage.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Carolina Cardoso Arede, Miguel Arede Antunes, João Rosa, Mafalda Oliveira, Paulo Pereira, Ana Rita Santos, Leonel Luís
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