Medical University of Karol Marcinkowski in Poznan, Poland.
Department of Radiotherapy of the Greater Poland Cancer Center, Medical University of Karol Marcinkowski in Poznan, Poland.
Otolaryngol Pol. 2021 May 12;75(5):1-8. doi: 10.5604/01.3001.0014.8759.
Radiotherapy (RT) for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) affects vital functions related to the irradiation volume of the head and neck region and, in addition, has a negative impact on social functioning, thereby significantly impairing patients' quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to assess changes in the quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer treated with curative RT at 12 months after completion of RT. The aim of this study was to assess the differences between the baseline QoL of patients with early clinical stage HNSCC and at 12 months after curative/radical RT. The prospective clinical study included 92 patients in good general condition (ECOG 0-1 - Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status), without regional or distant metastases, diagnosed with pathomorphologically confirmed early-stage head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with definitive RT. All patients participating in the study signed an informed consent form. QoL was assessed using the standard EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQH&N35 questionnaires. In addition, information on clinical aspects and data relating to socio-demographic factors were obtained from each patient. Statistical analysis was performed using a statistical package (SPSS 17.0). T-test was used for dependent and independent samples. A general linear model was used for repeated measures. Patients' QoL deteriorated significantly after definitive RT. Worse QoL Core-30 scores in patients 12 months after the end of RT, compared with baseline QoL, before the start of RT, were observed in domains such as physical performance, fulfillment of life roles, cognitive functioning, loss of appetite, fatigue and constipation. For the QLQ-H&N35 questionnaires, patients 12 months after the end of RT reported problems in relation to aspects of life such as senses, mouth opening, dry mouth, thick saliva, pain, and weight loss. RT, even in early clinical stage head and neck cancer, has a negative impact on QoL, despite modern treatment techniques.
放射治疗（RT）对头颈部鳞状细胞癌（HNSCC）患者的影响涉及头颈部照射区域的重要功能，此外还会对社交功能产生负面影响，从而显著降低患者的生活质量（QoL）。本研究旨在评估根治性 RT 治疗后 12 个月头颈部癌症患者生活质量的变化。本研究的目的是评估早期临床阶段 HNSCC 患者的基线 QoL 与根治性/根治性 RT 后 12 个月的 QoL 之间的差异。这项前瞻性临床研究纳入了 92 名一般状况良好的患者（ECOG 0-1-东部合作肿瘤学组表现状态），无区域或远处转移，经病理形态学证实为早期头颈部鳞状细胞癌，采用确定性 RT 治疗。所有参与研究的患者均签署了知情同意书。使用标准 EORTC QLQ-C30 和 QLQH＆N35 问卷评估生活质量。此外，还从每位患者那里获得了与临床方面和社会人口因素相关的数据。统计分析使用统计软件包（SPSS 17.0）进行。使用 t 检验进行独立样本和依赖样本的分析。使用一般线性模型进行重复测量。确定性 RT 后患者的生活质量显著恶化。与 RT 前基线 QoL 相比，RT 结束后 12 个月时，患者的核心 30 分问卷的 QoL 更差，在身体功能、生活角色履行、认知功能、食欲减退、疲劳和便秘等方面。对于 QLQ-H＆N35 问卷，RT 结束后 12 个月的患者报告在感官、张口、口干、唾液粘稠、疼痛和体重减轻等方面存在生活问题。即使是早期临床阶段的头颈部癌症，放射治疗也会对生活质量产生负面影响，尽管采用了现代治疗技术。
