Table 1.

Demographic characteristics of total population and distinguished subgroups

		Nonstandard treatment (N = 142)*
	Total population (N = 829)	Proposed by the MDT (N = 89)	Desired by the patient (N = 60)
Age (years) (mean and standard deviation)	63.9 (11.1)	67.2 (10.9)	71.2 (12.2)
Gender
Male	596 (72 %)	69 (78 %)	32 (53 %)
Female	233 (28 %)	20 (22 %)	28 (47 %)
Comorbidity score (ACE-27)
0	182 (22 %)	3 (3 %)	11 (18 %)
1	327 (39 %)	30 (34 %)	18 (30 %)
2	239 (29 %)	36 (40 %)	22 (37 %)
3	81 (10 %)	20 (23 %)	9 (15 %)
Tumor stage
1	162 (20 %)	5 (6 %)	8 (13 %)
2	180 (22 %)	6 (7 %)	7 (12 %)
3	161 (19 %)	26 (29 %)	7 (12 %)
4	326 (39 %)	52 (58 %)	38 (63 %)
Tumor site
Lip	24 (3 %)	0 (0 %)	1 (1 %)
Nasopharynx	29 (4 %)	4 (4 %)	25 (42 %)
Oral cavity	255 (31 %)	17 (19 %)	17 (29 %)
Oropharynx	213 (26 %)	27 (30 %)	6 (10 %)
Supraglottic larynx	89 (11 %)	13 (15 %)	3 (5 %)
Glottic larynx	124 (15 %)	8 (9 %)	8 (13 %)
Hypopharynx	95 (11 %)	20 (23 %)	0 (0 %)
Prior malignancy
No	669 (81 %)	70 (79 %)	47 (78 %)
Other prior cancer yet treated	84 (10 %)	7 (8 %)	8 (13 %)
Prior head and neck cancer yet treated	76 (9 %)	12 (13 %)	5 (9 %)
Marital status
Partner	569 (69 %)	50 (56 %)	27 (45 %)
Single	260 (31 %)	39 (44 %)	33 (55 %)
Standard treatment according to guidelines
Radiotherapy	185 (22 %)	10 (11 %)	4 (7 %)
Chemoradiation	183 (22 %)	47 (53 %)	14 (23 %)
Surgery + radiotherapy	208 (25 %)	20 (22 %)	29 (48 %)
Surgery + chemotherapy	12 (1 %)	3 (3 %)	0 (0 %)
Surgery + postoperative radiation (PORT) on indication	116 (14 %)	4 (5 %)	7 (12 %)
Surgery	125 (15 %)	5 (6 %)	6 (10 %)
Year of treatment
2010	234 (28 %)	27 (30 %)	21 (35 %)
2011	259 (31 %)	22 (25 %)	21 (35 %)
2012	335 (41 %)	40 (45 %)	18 (30 %)

*In seven patients, both MDT and patient were non-compliant to standard treatment guidelines; patients received a proposal of nonstandard treatment by the MDT but however refused any treatment