Acute and late effects of radical radiotherapy in elderly head and neck cancer patients

Abstract

16515 Background: To evaluate the difference between acute and late effects of radical radiotherapy in elderly(above 60 years,Group A) head and neck cancer patients with young patients (below 50 years of age, Group B). Methods: The study was conducted on histologically proven head and neck cancer patients receiving radical radiotherapy (RT),49 patients were in group A and 40 in group B.The acute and late radiation morbidity was assessed using RTOG (phases I,II,&III- Pre RT, During RT & 1 month post RT respectively) and LENT-SOMA scoring systems (phases IV &V-3 & 6 months post RT). Results: In phase II, grade I dermatitis was commonly seen (83.7% in group A,72.5% in group B) and grade II dermatitis was 12.2 % vs 25% of patients.The difference in distribution over age was not significant (p= 0.12 & 0.18 in phase II and III).There was no significant difference in the incidence of late effects between two groups (p=0.91 in phase IV and p=0.99 in phase V).Grade II mucositits was seen in majority of patients in both groups,71.4% vs 72.5% in phase II.The late mucosal changes with worrisome subjective (pain) experiences were observed in 69.4% vs 75% of patients in group A and B, respectively.The difference in distribution over the age was significant (p<0.051) only in phase II.Dryness of mouth was the most common acute and late sequel of RT.The acute salivary gland morbidity was mostly moderate to complete dryness (grade II),seen in phases II and III in 24.5% & 73.5% of patients but the late sequel was seen in 83.37% of patients in group A and 85% in group B and the difference in late effects in both groups was statistically significant except in phase V (p= 0.02). Moderate dysphagia of grade II morbidity was seen in 75.5% vs. 65% in phase II. Grade III dysphagia was seen only 5 patients in group A and one in group B. In phase IV,66.7% patients in group A,72.5% in group B had persistent difficulty in swallowing. Conclusions: Grade I and II mucositis and dermatitis during the course of treatment led to increased morbidity, decreased nutritional intake and pain. Xerostomia is the most common and inevitable acute and late squeal of radical radiotherapy to head and neck cancer region resulting in difficulty in mastication and swallowing. There was no difference in the occurrence of acute and late effects between younger and elderly patients. No significant financial relationships to disclose.