Trismus and reduced quality of life in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma who received postoperative radiotherapy alone or combined with chemotherapy.

Abstract

222 Background: Patients, who receive radiotherapy (RT) for head and neck cancer, develop chronic functional abnormalities and reduced mouth opening-trismus, surviving with reduced quality of life (QoL). We aimed to study trismus and QoL in patients with oral cancer, who received post-operative radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Methods: Patients, who receive radiotherapy (RT) for head and neck cancer, develop chronic functional abnormalities and reduced mouth opening-trismus, surviving with reduced quality of life (QoL). We aimed to study trismus and QoL in patients with oral cancer, who received post-operative radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Results: Mean RT dose was 64.3 Gray. Six patients received chemoradiotherapy. Severe mucositis, pain and xerostomia were recorded in 6 and 5 patients respectively. MMO was reduced in all patients. The mean MMO (34 mm) reached the level of trismus. The total number of symptoms increased from 3.1 to 6.3 in C-30 and from 3.1 to 8.8 per patient in the H/N35. Severe fatigue, pain, limitations at work, weakness, sad feelings, family problems, sleeping problems, anorexia, financial difficulties, tense/irritable, constipation, nausea, vomiting and depression were most often reported with C-30. Most patients reported poor to moderate quality of life. Severe oral, jaw and neck pain, swallowing problems, taste alterations, sticky saliva, dry mouth, coarseness, dental problems, feeling sick and reduced interest in life/sex were the most common symptoms reported with N/H35. Conclusions: The observed trismus, the 2- to 3-fold increase of symptoms and poorer quality of life highlighted the need for support of oral cancer patients, who receive postoperative radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Reduced systemic health, financial difficulties and family problems could be some of the main reasons for the inadequate compliance of our patients to the study, as shown by others, too. The strength of our study was the homogeneous group of patients: all had oral squamous cell carcinoma and all received post-operative radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. The small number of patients represents a weakness.