title: Health-related quality of life in patients with pharyngeal carcinoma: a five-year follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose was to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of patients with pharyngeal carcinoma at diagnosis and after 1 and 5 years in relation to tumor location and treatment modality in a prospective multicenter study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-nine patients with pharyngeal carcinoma (mean age, 60.0 years; 76% men) were evaluated using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Head and Neck Cancer Module (EORTC QLQ-H&N35).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Problems with dry mouth and teeth became worse between diagnosis and the 5-year follow-up. Problems with thick secretions and teeth increased between 1 and 5 years. The HRQL at diagnosis was associated with survival. Patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma reported better HRQL than patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For patients with pharyngeal carcinoma, the HRQL at diagnosis seems to be an important factor for the prognosis of both HRQL over time and survival. Treatment of pharyngeal carcinoma often results in long-term side effects such as dry mouth, problems with teeth, and thick secretions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Malmö University Hospital, Lund University, SE-205 02 Malmö, Sweden. mats.nordgren@med.lu.se
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nordgren
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jannert
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boysen
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahlner-Elmqvist
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Silander
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bjordal
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hammerlid
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012463:Saliva; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology