Table 1 Patients´ characteristics
|  | All patients (n = 59) | Early treatment group (n = 30) | Delayed treatment group (n = 29) | Statistical comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Gender (n, %) | ||||
 Male | 49 (83.0%) | 26 (86.7%) | 23 (79.3%) | X2(1) = 0.57, p = 0.451 |
 Female | 10 (17.0%) | 4 (13.3%) | 6 (20.7%) |  |
Age (mean years ± SD) | 60.76 ± 10.42 | 58.43 ± 9.39 | 63.17 ± 11.03 | t(57) = 1.97, p = 0.054 |
Nodal stage (n, %) | ||||
 pN1 | 5 (8.5%) | 4 (13.3%) | 1 (3.5%) |  |
 pN2a | 5 (8.5%) | 3 (10.0%) | 2 (6.9%) |  |
 pN2b | 9 (15.2%) | 4 (13.3%) | 5 (17.2%) | X2(3) = 2.20, p = 0.533 |
 pN2c | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |  |
 pN3a | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |  |
 pN3b | 40 (67.8%) | 19 (63.4%) | 21 (72.4%) |  |
UICC stage (n, %) | ||||
 III | 4 (6.8%) | 3 (10.0%) | 1 (3.5%) | X2(2) = 1.15, p = 0.563 |
 IVA | 15 (25.4%) | 8 (26.7%) | 7 (24.1%) |  |
 IVB | 40 (67.8%) | 19 (63.3%) | 21 (72.4%) |  |
Extranodal extension (n, %) | ||||
 Yes | 42 (71,19%) | 20 (66.7%) | 22 (75.9%) | X2(1) = 0.61, p = 0.436 |
 No | 17 (28.81%) | 10 (33.3%) | 7 (24.1%) |  |
Noxious agents | ||||
 Smoking | 42 (71.2%) | 22 (73.3%) | 20 (69.0%) | X2(1) = 0.14, p = 0.711 |
 Alcohol | 41 (69.5%) | 19 (63.3%) | 22 (75.9%) | X2(1) = 3.78, p = 0.151 |
ASA-Score | ||||
 1 | 5 (8.5%) | 3 (10.0%) | 2 (6.9%) | X2(2) 0.35, p = 0.841 |
 2 | 47 (79.7%) | 23 (76.7%) | 24 (82.7%) |  |
 3 | 7 (11.8%) | 4 (13.3%) | 3 (10.3%) |  |