Impact of conventional radiotherapy on health-related quality of life and critical functions of the head and neck.
OBJECTIVE
Head-and-neck radiotherapy is associated with significant morbidities. Our purpose was to document impact of morbidities by use of multiple objective measures and health-related quality of life (HR-QOL).


METHODS
Ten head-and-neck cancer patients were evaluated before receiving conventional head-and-neck radiotherapy and at 1 month and 6 months after treatment. We evaluated weight, saliva production, diet, swallow function, auditory function, and HR-QOL.


RESULTS
After radiotherapy, weight was reduced in 89% of subjects. Salivary function was significantly reduced and did not resolve by 6 months. Diet impairment and abnormalities in swallowing function persisted at 6 months. Perception of physical functioning was reduced after treatment, and swallowing, coughing, and dry-mouth symptoms increased. Very few changes were observed in auditory function.


CONCLUSIONS
Conventional head-and-neck radiotherapy is associated with substantial functional deficits and diminished HR-QOL. Deficits reported here can serve as a baseline for comparison with results derived from new radiotherapy-treatment techniques.
Connor
Nadine P
NP
Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin Medical School, and William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI 53792-7375, USA. connor@surgery.wisc.edu
Cohen
Stacy B
SB
Kammer
Rachael E
RE
Sullivan
Paula A
PA
Brewer
Kathryn A
KA
Hong
Theodore S
TS
Chappell
Richard J
RJ
Harari
Paul M
PM