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Radiation Oncology
Published in: Radiation Oncology 1/2007

Open Access 01-12-2007 | Research

Quality of life and salivary output in patients with head-and-neck cancer five years after radiotherapy

Authors: Pètra M Braam, Judith M Roesink, Cornelis PJ Raaijmakers, Wim B Busschers, Chris HJ Terhaard

Published in: Radiation Oncology | Issue 1/2007

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Abstract

Background

To describe long-term changes in time of quality of life (QOL) and the relation with parotid salivary output in patients with head-and-neck cancer treated with radiotherapy.

Methods

Forty-four patients completed the EORTC-QLQ-C30(+3) and the EORTC-QLQ-H&N35 questionnaires before treatment, 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and at least 3.5 years after treatment. At the same time points, stimulated bilateral parotid flow rates were measured.

Results

There was a deterioration of most QOL items after radiotherapy compared with baseline, with gradual improvement during 5 years follow-up. The specific xerostomia-related items showed improvement in time, but did not return to baseline. Global QOL did not alter significantly in time, although 41% of patients complained of moderate or severe xerostomia at 5 years follow-up. Five years after radiotherapy the mean cumulated parotid flow ratio returned to baseline but 20% of patients had a flow ratio <25%. The change in time of xerostomia was significantly related with the change in flow ratio (p = 0.01).

Conclusion

Most of the xerostomia-related QOL scores improved in time after radiotherapy without altering the global QOL, which remained high. The recovery of the dry mouth feeling was significantly correlated with the recovery in parotid flow ratio.
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Metadata
Title
Quality of life and salivary output in patients with head-and-neck cancer five years after radiotherapy
Authors
Pètra M Braam
Judith M Roesink
Cornelis PJ Raaijmakers
Wim B Busschers
Chris HJ Terhaard
Publication date
01-12-2007
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Radiation Oncology / Issue 1/2007
Electronic ISSN: 1748-717X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-717X-2-3

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