Quality of life and salivary output in patients with head-and-neck cancer five years after radiotherapy.
BACKGROUND
To describe long-term changes in time of quality of life (QOL) and the relation with parotid salivary output in patients with head-and-neck cancer treated with radiotherapy.


METHODS
Forty-four patients completed the EORTC-QLQ-C30(+3) and the EORTC-QLQ-H&N35 questionnaires before treatment, 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and at least 3.5 years after treatment. At the same time points, stimulated bilateral parotid flow rates were measured.


RESULTS
There was a deterioration of most QOL items after radiotherapy compared with baseline, with gradual improvement during 5 years follow-up. The specific xerostomia-related items showed improvement in time, but did not return to baseline. Global QOL did not alter significantly in time, although 41% of patients complained of moderate or severe xerostomia at 5 years follow-up. Five years after radiotherapy the mean cumulated parotid flow ratio returned to baseline but 20% of patients had a flow ratio <25%. The change in time of xerostomia was significantly related with the change in flow ratio (p = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Most of the xerostomia-related QOL scores improved in time after radiotherapy without altering the global QOL, which remained high. The recovery of the dry mouth feeling was significantly correlated with the recovery in parotid flow ratio.
Braam
Pètra M
PM
Department of Radiotherapy, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. P.M.Braam@umcutrecht.nl
Roesink
Judith M
JM
Raaijmakers
Cornelis P J
CP
Busschers
Wim B
WB
Terhaard
Chris H J
CH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology