title: QOL after head and neck reconstruction: evaluation of Japanese patients using SF-36 and GOHAI.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of Japanese patients with head and neck cancer after treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine patients who underwent resection and reconstruction of the head and neck cancer between September 2001 and January 2008 at the National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center completed the Short Form 36 (generic QOL measure) and the General Oral Health Assessment Index (oral-specific QOL measure).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The generic QOL of the patients was relatively maintained while oral-specific QOL was impaired compared to the Japanese norms. The patients with musculo-cutaneous flaps and 1y or longer after operation reported significantly lower QOL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is a unique study on Japanese patients with relatively longer time after operation. Further evaluation with increased number of cases and disease-specific QOL scale is required to better understand the QOL of the patients.
authors: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio University. 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan. merrilsmith@hotmail.com
authors: Makoto
authors: M
authors: Hikosaka
authors: Hiroko
authors: H
authors: Ochiai
authors: Masato
authors: M
authors: Fujii
authors: Noboru
authors: N
authors: Habu
authors: Yoko
authors: Y
authors: Yajima
authors: Toshioki
authors: T
authors: Sakurai
authors: Seiji
authors: S
authors: Bito