Abstract

ABSTRACT Purpose: to describe the audiological and otoacoustic emission findings in patients who had head and neck cancer and compare them with individuals without the disease. Methods: a comparative, cross-sectional, observational study encompassing two groups: Study: individuals with a history of head and neck cancer, submitted to chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy; Control: individuals without the disease. The sample comprised 23 individuals in each group, matched for age and gender. Procedures in which the groups were compared: meatoscopy; pure-tone threshold and high-frequency audiometry; speech audiometry; transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions. Statistical tests: Pearson’s chi-square; Fisher’s exact; two-proportion Z-test; Wilcoxon; Mann-Whitney; Student’s t-test. Results: the comparison between the groups revealed statistically significant differences at the 3, 6, 8, 10, and 12.5 kHz frequencies in the pure-tone threshold audiometry, with better pure-tone auditory thresholds in the control group. No significant differences were observed between the groups in the otoacoustic emissions regarding the general response and frequency band. Conclusion: individuals with a history of head and neck cancer had higher pure-tone auditory thresholds than their controls, especially at the higher frequencies. This evidences the deleterious effect of ototoxicity on the peripheral auditory system of adults. The otoacoustic emissions were similar in the two groups.

Highlights

  • Cancer is a disease that results from a variety of chemical, physical, and viral factors, in most of the cases causing permanent and irreversible alterations in a certain proportion of the cells in the organism[1]

  • A total of 46 individuals participated in this study – 23 with a history of head and neck cancer submitted to chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, and 23 without a positive history of cancer, matched for age (Student’s t-test, p > 0.999)

  • As for the frequency distribution regarding gender and type of treatment in the groups studied, it was observed that males were predominant in the study group, as well as chemotherapy and combined treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, in equal proportion

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Summary

Introduction

Cancer is a disease that results from a variety of chemical, physical, and viral factors, in most of the cases causing permanent and irreversible alterations in a certain proportion of the cells in the organism[1]. According to the National Cancer Institute (Instituto Nacional do Câncer – INCA), of the Brazilian Ministry of Health, head and neck cancer ranks fifth among the most frequent neoplasias, with a worldwide incidence estimated at 780,000 new cases per year[2]. One of the most common of those affecting the head and neck region, occurs predominantly in men[3]. It represents approximately 25% of the malignant tumors affecting this region and 2% of all malignant diseases. There are other aggravating factors, such as family history, bad eating habits, unfavorable socioeconomic conditions, chronic inflammation of the larynx caused by gastroesophageal reflux, human papillomavirus (HPV), exposure to chemical products and pollution[4]

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