Quality of Life After High-dose Brachytherapy in Patients with Early Oral Carcinoma

Česká verzia

Authors: Doležalová Helena ¹; Blechová Nicole ²; Petera Jiří ³
Authors place of work: Stomatologická klinika LF UK a FN Hradec Králové ¹; Radiologická klinika LF UK a FN Hradec Králové ²; Klinika onkologie a radioterapie LF UK a FN Hradec Králové ³
Published in the journal: Klin Onkol 2018; 31(2): 125-129
Category: Original Articles
doi: https://doi.org/10.14735/amko2018125

Summary

Background:
The prevalence of head and neck tumors has continually increased over the past decades, which is a serious medical and social problem. This study retrospectively assessed the quality of life of patients with early-stage oral cavity tumors after high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy.

Material and Methods:
Quality of life was evaluated in 14 patients with early-onset oral cavity tumors who underwent HDR brachytherapy at the Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, University Hospital Hradec Kralove. The standardized EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-H&N 35 questionnaires were used. Patients completed these questionnaires at 12 months after treatment.

Results:
The general health status was scored 70 points using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Fatigue, insomnia, loss of appetite, dyspnea, and financial problems were the most severe problems reported. The main problems identified by the EORTC QLQ-H&N 35 questionnaire were weight gain, coughing, pain, sticky saliva, and difficulties eating in public. On the contrary, patients did not significantly suffer weight loss, speech impairments, difficulties in mouth opening or swallowing, or sensory problems.

Conclusion:
HDR brachytherapy is an effective treatment for early oral cancer that leaves patients with an acceptable quality of life. A prospective, multicentric study focused on the quality of life of patients with head and neck tumors is required.

Key worlds:
oral cancer – brachytherapy – quality of life

This article was supported by grant PROGRES Q 40/13.

The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study.

The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE recommendation for biomedical papers.

Submitted:
17. 1. 2018

Accepted:
4. 2. 2018

Zdroje

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