A Prospective Comparative Study of Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Patients of Head and Neck Cancers Treated with 2-D RT vs 3-D CRT

Abstract

Background: SNHL is disabling for the patient, since it has a chronic and often Progressive natural history. sensorineural hearing loss is irreversible, whereas conductive hearing loss (as often found after radiotherapy) is mainly reversible. Material and Methods: This prospective randomized study was conducted in Department of Radiation Oncology, S P medical college Bikaner, Rajasthan. The study was done from November 2020 to October 2021. After taking informed consent total of 50 patients of biopsy proven squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck region randomly distributed among Group A who received 2D RT (2Gy/Fr in 30 to 35 fractions for 6 to 7 weeks) and Group B who received 3D CRT (2Gy/fr) in 30 to 35 fractions for 6 to 7 weeks).Result: After completion of treatment SNHL assessment was done in patients treated with conventional and conformal radiotherapy which was for speech frequency 15% and 8 % respectively and for high frequency was 45% and 28% respectively. After 3 month of completion SNHL for speech frequency 27.5% and 12% respectively and for high frequency was 62.5% and 32% respectively. Conclusion: High-frequency hearing loss can have a significant impact on quality of life because it affects speech discrimination, conventional radiotherapy experienced greater hearing loss as compared of conformal.