TITLE:
Evaluation of Quality of Life and Oral Changes of Patients in Head and Neck Radiotherapy: Observational Study
AUTHORS:
Emilly Silva e Silva, Gerlane Lima Oliveira, Ana Carolina Carneiro Cardoso, Isabella Melo Brito Ferreira, Marco Tulio Brazão-Silva, Douglas Magno Guimarães
KEYWORDS:
Adverse Reactions, Head and Neck Neoplasms, Radiotherapy
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Cancer Therapy,
Vol.12 No.11,
November
30,
2021
ABSTRACT: Radiotherapy (RT) in the head and neck, despite coming from technological
evolution, is challenged by the acute and late side effects of local
irradiation, including permanent loss of saliva, osteoradionecrosis, dental
caries induced by radiation and necrosis of the oral cavity, mucositis,
xerostomia and secondary infections like candidiasis. Since these
manifestations are limiting and the integrity of the vital organs contemplates
the patient’s general health status, the oral health-related quality of life
(OHRQoL) can be significantly affected by
the treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC), since cancer can cause
important changes in vital functions related to communication, food and social
contact, causing disturbances in the patient’s life. An observational and
longitudinal study was carried out with 16 cancer patients submitted to RT in
the head and neck, between the years 2019-2020 with the objectives of
collecting clinical and epidemiological data on the main oral changes caused by
RT in the head and neck and correlating them with the impact on OHRQoL. To
analyze the OHRQoL, the University of Washington’s Quality of Life Assessment
questionnaire (UW-QOL) was applied once a week for 4 weeks and to observe oral manifestations, a dental clinic
file standardized by the researchers was applied. The main oral
manifestations clinically observed were hyposalivation, trismus and oral
mucositis. The UW-QOL presented pain, chewing and taste as the main complaints
reported by patients, however, appearance, salivation and chewing showed
statistically significant differences over the
weeks. The main manifestations observed were hyposalivation, trismus and
oral mucositis, the physical limitations resulting from these manifestations
impact the OHRQoL of cancer patients in terms of appearance, salivation and
chewing.