Bukatko AR, et al. - Researchers conducted this retrospective cohort study of 91,858 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients from the National Cancer Database (2004 to 2013) to estimate 30-day postoperative mortality in HNSCC and to define clinical/nonclinical factors associated with 30-day mortality. Inclusion criteria included adult patients treated surgically with curative intent for the primary HNSCC, not missing first treatment, survival and follow-up information. Death of a total of 775 patients within 30 days of definitive surgery for HNSCC (30-day mortality rate of 0.84%) was reported. Patients with a greater burden of comorbidities, with low education, and covered by Medicaid exhibited higher 30-day mortality.