Impact of Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy on Health-Related Quality of Life for Head and Neck Cancer Patients: Matched-Pair Comparison with Conventional Radiotherapy

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EDT 2007 · International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2006.11.012· OSTI ID:20951572

Graff, Pierre ^[1]; Lapeyre, Michel ^[2]; Desandes, Emmanuel ^[3]; Ortholan, Cecile ^[4]; Bensadoun, Rene-Jean ^[4]; Alfonsi, Marc ^[5]; Maingon, Philippe ^[6]; Giraud, Philippe ^[7]; Bourhis, Jean ^[8]; Marchesi, Vincent ^[1]; Mege, Alice ^[1]; Peiffert, Didier ^[1]

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1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Alexis Vautrin Center, Vandoeuvre-Les-Nancy (France)
2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Jean Perrin Center, Clermont-Ferrand (France)
3. Department of Clinical Research, Alexis Vautrin Center, Vandoeuvre-Les-Nancy (France)
4. Department of Radiation Oncology, Antoine Lacassagne Center, Nice (France)
5. Department of Radiation Oncology, Sainte Catherine Center, Avignon (France)
6. Department of Radiation Oncology, Georges-Francois Leclerc Center, Dijon (France)
7. Department of Radiation Oncology, Curie Institute, Paris (France)
8. Department of Radiation Oncology, Gustave Roussy Institute, Paris (France)

Purpose: To assess the benefit of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) compared with conventional RT for the quality of life (QOL) of head and neck cancer survivors. Methods and Materials: Cross-sectional QOL measures (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QOL questionnaire C30 and head and neck cancer module) were used with a French multicenter cohort of patients cured of head and neck cancer (follow-up {>=} 1 year) who had received bilateral neck RT ({>=} 45 Gy) as a part of their initial treatment. We compared the QOL mean scores regarding RT modality (conventional RT vs. IMRT). The patients of the two groups were matched (one to one) according to the delay between the end of RT and the timing of the QOL evaluation and the T stage. Each QOL item was divided into two relevant levels of severity: 'not severe' (responses, 'not at all' and 'a little') vs. 'severe' (responses 'quite a bit' and 'very much'). The association between the type of RT and the prevalence of severe symptoms was approximated, through multivariate analysis using the prevalence odds ratio. Results: Two comparable groups (67 pairs) were available. Better scores were observed on the head and neck cancer module QOL questionnaire for the IMRT group, especially for dry mouth and sticky saliva (p < 0.0001). Severe symptoms were more frequent with conventional RT concerning saliva modifications and oral discomfort. The adjusted prevalence odds ratios were 3.17 (p = 0.04) for dry mouth, 3.16 (p = 0.02) for sticky saliva, 3.58 (p = 0.02) for pain in the mouth, 3.35 (p = 0.04) for pain in the jaw, 2.60 (p = 0.02) for difficulties opening the mouth, 2.76 (p = 0.02) for difficulties with swallowing, and 2.68 (p = 0.03) for trouble with eating. Conclusion: The QOL assessment of head and neck cancer survivors demonstrated the benefit of IMRT, particularly in the areas of salivary dysfunction and oral discomfort.

• OSTI ID: 20951572
• Journal Information: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Journal Name: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 67; ISSN IOBPD3; ISSN 0360-3016
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
HEAD
JAW
MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS
NECK
NEOPLASMS
ORAL CAVITY
PAIN
PATIENTS
RADIOTHERAPY
SALIVA