Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Region Västra Götaland, Department of Otorhinolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Support Care Cancer. 2023 Nov 15;31(12):699. doi: 10.1007/s00520-023-08162-y.
Pain is a frequent symptom of head and neck cancer (HNC) but longitudinal studies investigating facial pain are scarce. We aimed to investigate prevalence of facial pain, its effect on health-related quality of life (HRQL) and trismus-related symptoms in a HNC cohort.
Patients (n = 194) were prospectively followed post completion of radiotherapy (RT). Outcome measures included facial pain, HRQL, trismus-specific symptoms, and maximal interincisal opening (MIO).
Facial pain was reported by 50% at baseline. Corresponding figures for 3-, 12-, and 60 months post-RT were 70%, 54% and 41%. Moderate to severe pain was reported in 29-44% of patients reporting pain during the study period. Patients reporting pain scored significantly worse on more HRQL variables and trismus symptoms, as well as had significantly smaller MIO at all follow-up time points.
Facial pain was common in HNC patients pre- and post-RT and remained prevalent up to 5 years after completion of RT. Reductions in MIO were associated with more facial pain. Pain was also associated with worse HRQL.
疼痛是头颈部癌症（HNC）的常见症状，但对面部疼痛的纵向研究却很少。我们旨在调查 HNC 患者队列中面部疼痛的患病率、对健康相关生活质量（HRQL）的影响以及与牙关紧闭相关的症状。
前瞻性地随访了完成放疗（RT）后的 194 名患者。结局指标包括面部疼痛、HRQL、特发性牙关紧闭症状和最大开口度（MIO）。
基线时有 50%的患者报告有面部疼痛。在 RT 后 3、12 和 60 个月时，相应的数字分别为 70%、54%和 41%。在研究期间报告疼痛的患者中有 29-44%报告有中度至重度疼痛。报告疼痛的患者在所有随访时间点的 HRQL 变量和特发性牙关紧闭症状评分明显更差，MIO 也明显更小。
HNC 患者在 RT 前和 RT 后均有面部疼痛，并且在 RT 完成后 5 年内仍然普遍存在。MIO 的减少与更多的面部疼痛相关。疼痛也与较差的 HRQL 相关。
