title: Quality of life in breast cancer patients with bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws and patients with head and neck cancer: a comparative study using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-HN35 questionnaires.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This exploratory study aimed at examining the diagnostic utility, validity and reliability of already established quality of life (QoL) measures in cancer patients with osteonecrosis of the jaws (ONJ).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective, observational, controlled clinical study. Female patients diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer and stage 2 or 3 ONJ (group I), metastatic breast cancer alone (group II), or cancer of the oral cavity (group III) were questioned. The EORTC QLQ-C30 version 3.0 and the QLQ-HN35 head and neck-specific questionnaires were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Completed questionnaires were obtained from 64 patients. Overall internal consistency was acceptable to excellent with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.728 to 0.892. The Spearman-Brown coefficient was 0.888 and 0.872 for QLQ-C30 and HN35, respectively. Several scales of the questionnaire were sensitive to patient group: Global health status/Qol, HN Social eating, HN Pain, HN Swallowing, HN Senses, Role Function. Symptom intensity correlated with ONJ stage (2 vs. 3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EORTC QLQ-HN35 in conjunction with QLQ-C30 is a valid and informative tool in assessing QoL in patients with metastatic breast cancer and ONJ. Administration of the instrument to patients with ONJ of various nationalities is feasible and such efforts would greatly assist in recording the additional health burden created by this complication of bisphosphonate therapy. The use of HN35 module may be feasible in patients with any type of metastatic cancer who develop ONJ.
authors: University Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, G. Papanikolaou General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. akyrgidi@gmail.com
authors: Athanassios
authors: A
authors: Kyrgidis
authors: Stefanos
authors: S
authors: Triaridis
authors: Konstantinos
authors: K
authors: Kontos
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Patrikidou
authors: Charalambos
authors: C
authors: Andreadis
authors: Jannis
authors: J
authors: Constantinidis
authors: Konstantinos
authors: K
authors: Vahtsevanos
authors: Konstantinos
authors: K
authors: Antoniades
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007571:Jaw Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D004164:Diphosphonates