Changes in oral function, swallowing function, and quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment can cause oral morbidities, such as oral dryness and dysphagia, affecting the patient's quality of life (QOL). The relationship between oral functions and QOL in patients with early-stage HNC remains poorly studied. This study aimed to evaluate changes in the QOL of patients with early-stage HNC and identify factors that affect the QOL of these patients. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, 37 patients who underwent early-stage (Stage I/Stage II) HNC treatment were evaluated for their oral function, swallowing function, and the QOL score at baseline (BL) and 12 months after surgical treatment (12 M). The participants were divided into two groups: patients who returned to the BL QOL score at 12 M (RE; n = 26) and those who did not (NR; n = 11). RESULTS: In total, 29.7% (11/37) patients with early-stage HNC did not return to the BL QOL score at 12 M. There was no significant difference between the RE and NR groups regarding the oral and swallowing function. Moreover, oral and swallowing function of all patients returned to the BL at 12 M. The NR group showed lower QOL scores than the RE group in the global health status, and "sticky saliva" parameters in the questionnaires. CONCLUSION: Restoration of the oral function is insufficient to improve the QOL of patients with early-stage HNC. The treatment of these patients should instead consider several factors that affect their QOL.

Changes in Oral Function and Quality of Life in Tongue Cancer Patients Based on Resected Area.

OBJECTIVE: Treatment of tongue cancer caused oral morbidities such as oral dryness, and dysphagia. The purpose of this study is to examine the time course of oral function and QOL based on resected area for patients after tongue cancer resection. METHODS: 31 patients who underwent tongue cancer resection at the Showa University Head and Neck Oncology Center. The participants were divided into two groups; 24 participants in partial/hemi glossectomy group (PG), and seven in subtotal/total glossectomy group (TG). Participants were evaluated swallowing function (FOIS and MASA-C), tongue pressure (TP: kPa), BMI, whole body muscle mass (kg), and QOL evaluation (EORTC QLQ-C30, H & N35). Participants were measured at baseline (before surgical treatment), 1, 3, and 6 months after surgical treatment (1M, 3M, and 6M). RESULTS: At baseline, tongue pressure and FOIS score of PG were significant higher than that of TG. At 1M, TP, MASA-C, and FOIS score of PG were significant higher than that of TG. At 3M, TP, MASA-C, and FOIS score of PG were significant higher than that of TG. At 6M, TP and MASA-C were significantly higher than that of TG. QOL measurements did not noted any significant difference between groups before 6M. At 6M, Some QOL measurements of TG related tongue function (Swallowing, Senses, Speech, Social contact) were significantly lower than PG. CONCLUSIONS: The resected area had significant effects on oral morbidities and feeding function. It is necessary to develop more effective rehabilitation methods to improve patients QOL who had functional impairment remained.
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