title: Functional outcome after different oncological interventions in head and neck cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patient-reported outcomes following head and neck cancer are of great importance given the functional, psychological, and social impacts of the disease and its treatment. With an increasing number of publications on HRQOL following head and neck cancer and a growing awareness of the potential role of HRQOL in practice, it was our aim to investigate head and neck functional mobility that is often not taking into account in HRQOL scores.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective study, three different groups of 32 patients each were included. Any patient who had histologically confirmed invasive OSCC in the anterior floor of the mouth was eligible. All patients were examined by a standardized test assessing function, including the distance of mouth opening, extension, flexion, and rotation of the head.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 96 patients were included in this study. The mean age was 62.79 ± 8.93 years. Head and neck mobility measured in patients is presented and analyzed. Compared to the baseline, a significant reduction of mouth opening and head and neck mobility was noted in all groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although both treatment options (surgery and surgery with radiotherapy) were performed according to the tumor stage of patients, there are significant differences in the functional outcome of these patients as observed in this study. There is a lack of a measuring instrument that will be the "gold standard" in the assessment of head and neck functional mobility. This study will allow the reflection of our current practice and may stimulate further well-designed prospective studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Klinikum Rechts der Isar der, Technischen Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany. th.mucke@gmx.de
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mücke
authors.forename: Janett
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koschinski
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wagenpfeil
authors.forename: Klaus-Dietrich
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanatas
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Deppe
authors.forename: Marco R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kesting
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D037981:Neck Dissection; D010025:Osteoradionecrosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D020127:Recovery of Function; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome