title: Jaw mobility changes in patients with upper aerodigestive tract cancer undergoing radiation therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radiation therapy is a therapeutic modality widely used for treatment of upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) neoplasms. However, its action is not restricted to tumor cells, and it may cause a variety of adverse reactions, including reduced jaw mobility.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort study was conducted to assess changes in jaw mobility in patients with UADT cancer undergoing radiation therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-six patients completed the study. The results showed a significant reduction in mouth opening (p<0.001), right lateral excursion (p=0.038) and left lateral excursion (p=0.035) of the jaw, a significant increase in the presence (p<0.001) and severity of oral mucositis (p<0.001), and a significant decrease in performance status (p<0.001) after radiation therapy. Thirty-six patients (64.3%) exhibited reduction in mouth opening after treatment. The variables significantly associated with mouth opening reduction on bivariate analysis were: modification of diet (p=0.037), radiation field (p=0.024), presence of mucositis (p=0.003), and reduction in performance status (p=0.007). After adjustment by the multivariate model, the only variables that remained significantly associated with reduction in mouth opening were presence of mucositis (p=0.018) and reduction in performance status (p=0.47).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that patients with upper aerodigestive tract cancer experience reduced jaw mobility after radiation therapy, which is strongly correlated with mucositis and reduced functional ability.
authors.affiliation: Av. Montenegro, 163/801, 90460-160 - Porto Alegre, RS Brazil, karoline.bragante@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Karoline
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bragante
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wienandts
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mozzini
authors.forename: Rosélie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Neiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: da Motta
authors.forename: Geraldo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jotz
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007568:Jaw / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D011446:Prospective Studies