title: Electrogustometry and contact endoscopy findings in patients with head and neck malignancies treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or radiochemotherapy.
abstract: This study aimed to investigate in parallel changes in gustatory function, changes in morphology of the fungiform papillae, as well as changes in the shape and density of the vessels of the tip of the tongue in patients treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or radiochemotherapy. Twenty patients (7 females and 13 males; age range: 42-78 years) with head and neck malignancies (hypopharynx, larynx, oropharynx, and parotid) treated with radiochemotherapy (n = 8), chemotherapy (n = 8), or radiotherapy (n = 4) were prospectively studied. In all patients, electrogustometry and contact endoscopy were performed. Radiotherapy-treated patients exhibited higher electrogustometry thresholds and greater alterations in the morphology and vascularization of the fungiform papillae than the other two groups. Radiochemotherapy patients had less pronounced changes of the electrogustometry threshold and fungiform papillae structure compared with radiotherapy patients. Chemotherapy alone caused less severe change in both electrogustometry threshold and fungiform papillae structure than radiotherapy or radiochemotherapy. Radiotherapy alone caused greater disorders of taste-related anatomic parameters and electrogustometry thresholds compared with chemotherapy and combined radiochemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, Katholisches Klinikum, Rudolf-Virchow-Str. 7, 56073 Koblenz, Germany, papavlid@googlemail.com.
authors.forename: Pavlos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pavlidis
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, University Hospital Mainz, Mainz, Germany and.
authors.forename: Haralampos
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gouveris
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, Katholisches Klinikum, Rudolf-Virchow-Str. 7, 56073 Koblenz, Germany.
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gorgulla
authors.affiliation: Radiologisches Institut Dr. von Essen Koblenz, Koblenz, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Jochem
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hast
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, Katholisches Klinikum, Rudolf-Virchow-Str. 7, 56073 Koblenz, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maurer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D013652:Taste Threshold / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D014059:Tongue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: chemotherapy; contact endoscopy; electrogustometry; fungiform papillae; radiochemotherapy; radiotherapy; taste; vascularization