Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine the changes in swallowing function and quality of life in early period a er radiotherapy in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. Methods: Fourty patients with HNC were included in the study. Swallowing function was evaluated by Modified Barium Swallowing Study. Penetration-Aspiration Scale was used to determine the penetration aspiration severity. European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer, Quality of Life Assessments in Head and Neck Cancer (EORTC QLQ-H&N35) which are specific to cancer patients with acceptable validity and reliability were used for quality of life assessment. All evaluations were performed three times including before radiotherapy, 1 and 3 months a er radiotherapy. Results: The aspiration severity were gradually increased a er radiotherapy (p 0.0166). Pain and fee - ling illness decreased (p<0.001), swallowing problems, dry mouth, sticky saliva (p<0.001), teeth, mouth-opening problems (p<0.016) increased a er radiotherapy. There was a moderate, negative correlation between aspiration severity and general health status scale (p<0.001). There was a moderate, positive correlation between aspiration severity and symptom scale, swallowing ability, social eating, dry mouth, sticky saliva and coughing (p<0.05). Discussion: It can be concluded that swallowing function and swallowing related quality of life parameters were a ected negatively in the early period a er radiotherapy despite no change in general quality of life perception. It is important for clinicians to be aware of swallowing disorders and its e ects on quality of life in the early period to prevent patients from potential long-term e ects of swallowing disorders on general quality of life.
Abstract Background Our aim was to evaluate the correlation between the radiation doses to parotid gland (PG) stem cells and xerostomia. Methods Patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer (HNC) were retrospectively evaluated, and xerostomia inventory (XI) was applied to these patients. PG stem cells were delineated on the treatment planning CT, and the mean doses to the PG stem cells calculated. Results The total test score and mean doses to bilateral PGs were significantly correlated ( r = .34, P = .001), and the mean doses to bilateral PG stem cell niches were significantly correlated with the total test score ( r = .32, P = .002). Conclusions In this study, we found that the mean dose to PG stem cells can predict dry mouth as much as the mean dose to the PG.
Background: We aimed to evaluate the effect of sarcopenia on survival in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with chemoradiotherapy. Materials & methods: Disease-free survival and overall survival were compared according to cervical computed tomography for radiotherapy in 123 sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with chemoradiotherapy with weekly cisplatin. Results: In multivariate analyses, pretreatment sarcopenia was associated with lower disease-free survival (hazard ratio: 2.60; 95% CI: 1.38-4.87; p = 0.003) and overall survival (hazard ratio: 2.86; 95% CI: 1.40-5.85; p = 0.004). Sarcopenic patients experienced more frequent radiotherapy-related toxicities and platinum-related side effects than non-sarcopenic patients. Conclusion: Sarcopenia could be a potential biomarker to predict prognosis and treatment toxicity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.Head and neck cancer is one of the main causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Most patients are diagnosed in the advanced stage. Muscle wasting with significant weight loss occurs in nearly half of the patients at the initial diagnosis. In oncology research, sarcopenia has often been described as the loss of skeletal muscle mass. In this study, we evaluated the effect of sarcopenia on survival in head and neck cancer patients. Muscle mass was calculated using information from head and neck computed tomography before radiotherapy treatment in patients. We showed that patients with low muscle mass had significantly worse survival rates and were more susceptible to treatment-related side effects. Sarcopenia may function as a marker showing the course of disease in patients with head and neck cancer.
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