Evaluation of the LENT-SOMA scales for the prospective assessment of treatment morbidity in cervical carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the Late Effects Normal Tissue Task Force (LENT)-Subjective, Objective, Management, Analytic (SOMA) scales prospectively in carcinoma of the cervix treated curatively with radiotherapy (RT) using interviews and postal questionnaires and to test the sensitivity of the scales in assessing the radiation effects.


METHODS
A consecutive series of 100 patients completed questionnaires to score the subjective part of the published LENT-SOMA scales. Assessments were made before RT and at approximately 21, 70, 200, 400, 600, and 800 days after the start of treatment. The acceptability and feasibility of using the scales was examined using compliance in completion of the questionnaires. The scales were validated by evaluating the concordance of data obtained by two independent scorers and by examining the ability of the scales to measure radiation-related symptoms.


RESULTS
Questionnaires were completed for 89 patients before RT. The level of noncompliance was 11%. The concordance between scores when two people completed the questionnaires independently was excellent. Subjective subsite scores were highest 21 days after treatment but generally fell by 70 days. The average baseline overall LENT-SOMA subjective scores increased with advancing stage (p = 0.008) and were higher for patients treated with RT alone (p = 0.044).


CONCLUSIONS
In cervical carcinoma, the LENT-SOMA scales were acceptable and feasible to administer in the clinic and appropriate in the measurement of early subjective morbidity from RT.
Department of Clinical Oncology, Christie Hospital NHS Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Jacqueline A
JA
Routledge
Meriel P
MP
Burns
R
R
Swindell
Vincent S
VS
Khoo
Catharine M L
CM
West
Susan E
SE
Davidson
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000145:classification*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*