Assessment of quality of life in patients with advanced oral cancer who underwent mandibulectomy with or without bone reconstruction

INTRODUCTION Malignant neoplasms of the head and neck, due to its anatomical location, can cause significant alterations in vital functions related to feeding, communication and social interaction of the affected patients. Objective To analyze the quality of life of patients with advanced malignant neoplasms of the oral cavity and submitted to radical operations with curative intent. Material and methods 47 patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), in stages III and IV, underwent surgical treatment with segmental mandibulectomy and complementary radiotherapy. The patients were submitted to the quality of life questionnaires after a minimum time of six months after the surgical treatment. Results Of the 183 patients, only 47 (25.7%) were able to answer the questionnaire and were included as the sample of the study. The majority of patients selected were male (39; 82.9%). The mean age was 64.4 years. The majority of the patients presented clinical stage IV (83%) and were submitted to adjuvant radiotherapy (95.4%). The mean score obtained after the questionnaires were applied was 64.6. The worst scores were found in swallowing and chewing. Conclusion There were no statistically significant differences in the domains of quality of life between the two groups studied (with bone reconstruction versus no bone reconstruction). Patients interviewed 2 years or more after treatment presented higher scores (p = 0.02).

RESUMO INTRODUÇÃO As neoplasias malignas de cabeça e pescoço, pela própria localização anatômica, podem acarretar alterações significativas em funções vitais relacionadas à alimentação, comunicação e interação social dos indivíduos afetados. OBJETIVO Analisar a qualidade de vida dos pacientes com neoplasias malignas avançadas de cavidade oral, submetidos a operações radicais com intenção curativa. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS 47 pacientes portadores de carcinoma espinocelular de cavidade oral, em estádios III e IV, foram submetidos ao tratamento cirúrgico com mandibulectomia segmentar e radioterapia complementar. Os pacientes foram submetidos ao teste de qualidade de vida após o tempo mínimo de seis meses do tratamento cirúrgico. RESULTADOS Dos 183 pacientes, com apenas 47 (25,7%) foi possível a realização da entrevista, compondo estes a amostra para o estudo. A maioria dos pacientes do grupo selecionado era do sexo masculino, total de 39 homens (82,9%). A idade média foi de 64,4 anos. A maioria dos pacientes apresentava estadiamento clínico IV (83%), sendo submetidos à radioterapia adjuvante (95,4%). A média do escore obtido após a avaliação dos questionários foi de 64,6. Os piores escores foram encontrados nos quesitos deglutição e mastigação. CONCLUSÃO Não houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas nos domínios de qualidade de vida entre os dois grupos estudados (com reconstrução óssea versus sem reconstrução óssea). Pacientes entrevistados dois anos ou mais após o tratamento apresentaram escores superiores (p=0,02).

Assessment of quality of life in patients with advanced oral cancer who underwent mandibulectomy with or without bone reconstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Malignant neoplasms of the head and neck, due to its anatomical location, can cause significant alterations in vital functions related to feeding, communication and social interaction of the affected patients. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the quality of life of patients with advanced malignant neoplasms of the oral cavity and submitted to radical operations with curative intent. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 47 patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), in stages III and IV, underwent surgical treatment with segmental mandibulectomy and complementary radiotherapy. The patients were submitted to the quality of life questionnaires after a minimum time of six months after the surgical treatment. RESULTS: Of the 183 patients, only 47 (25.7%) were able to answer the questionnaire and were included as the sample of the study. The majority of patients selected were male (39; 82.9%). The mean age was 64.4 years. The majority of the patients presented clinical stage IV (83%) and were submitted to adjuvant radiotherapy (95.4%). The mean score obtained after the questionnaires were applied was 64.6. The worst scores were found in swallowing and chewing. CONCLUSION: There were no statistically significant differences in the domains of quality of life between the two groups studied (with bone reconstruction versus no bone reconstruction). Patients interviewed 2 years or more after treatment presented higher scores (p = 0.02).