Liang Haixin, Yang Huan, Yin Li, Wang Lan, Jiu Enmei, Li Bin, Pang Huarong
Department of Comprehensive Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Head and Neck Radiotherapy Department 2, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Support Care Cancer. 2025 Apr 29;33(5):435. doi: 10.1007/s00520-025-09484-9.
Taste and smell alterations (TSAs) in nasopharyngeal cancer patients negatively impact their quality of life. This study is aimed at assessing the prevalence of TSAs in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma undergoing radiotherapy and at exploring the correlation between TSAs and quality of life.
The research was a cross-sectional survey conducted from June 2023 to March 2024 in which the Taste and Smell Survey (TSS) questionnaires were administered to 135 patients receiving radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal cancer.
The mean total score on the TSS scale was 9.37 ± 4.595. A higher TSS score indicates more alterations. We enrolled 135 patients, 91.1% of whom reported alterations in taste and smell. The severity of alterations was classified as mild (6.7%), moderate (33.3%), and severe (51.1%). The occurrence of changes in taste sensitivity to salty, sweet, sour, and bitter flavors were 66.7%, 52.6%, 52.6%, and 53.3%, respectively, while olfactory sensitivity changes were found in 48.9% of the patients. Notably, a statistically significant correlation was found between cumulative dose of radiotherapy and the TSS score (p < 0.05). TSAs were significantly correlated with anxiety and overall quality of life (p < 0.05).
TSAs are prevalent among patients undergoing radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, with the majority experiencing moderate to severe alterations. The findings underscore the importance of implementing targeted interventions to address the sensory alterations and improve the patients' psychological well-being and life quality.
鼻咽癌患者的味觉和嗅觉改变（TSAs）对其生活质量产生负面影响。本研究旨在评估接受放疗的鼻咽癌患者中TSAs的患病率，并探讨TSAs与生活质量之间的相关性。
该研究为横断面调查，于2023年6月至2024年3月进行，对135例接受鼻咽癌放疗的患者进行了味觉和嗅觉调查问卷（TSS）。
TSS量表的平均总分是9.37±4.595。TSS评分越高表明改变越多。我们纳入了135例患者，其中91.1%报告有味觉和嗅觉改变。改变的严重程度分为轻度（6.7%）、中度（33.3%）和重度（51.1%）。对咸、甜、酸、苦味道的味觉敏感度改变的发生率分别为66.7%、52.6%、52.6%和53.3%，而48.9%的患者存在嗅觉敏感度改变。值得注意的是，放疗累积剂量与TSS评分之间存在统计学显著相关性（p<0.05）。TSAs与焦虑和总体生活质量显著相关（p<0.05）。
TSAs在接受鼻咽癌放疗的患者中很普遍，大多数患者经历中度至重度改变。研究结果强调了实施针对性干预措施以解决感觉改变并改善患者心理健康和生活质量的重要性。
