Patients with malignancies of the oro- and hypopharynx as well as the larynx. Significance/importance of oncological aftercare consultation

The necessity of a long-time, closely monitored, well-structured, personal and time-consuming aftercare consultation is still discussed controversially. Based on the analysis of our oncological patients with tumours of the pharynx and larynx in the period from 1999-2000 we want to emphasize that after treatment is of vital importance. Besides the main focus of oncology on the early detection of recurrent tumours, distant metastases and second primary tumours as well as a fast interdisciplinary and mostly multimodal treatment planning, consultation is also a central point of reference and coordination site for rehabilitation, psycho-oncology and quality assurance of treatment. Last but not least consultation serves for purposes of continuous data collection and oncological epidemiology.