TY - JOUR
T1 - Patient-reported measurements of oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients treated with radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy
T2 - Demonstration of increased frequency, severity, resistance to palliation, and impact on quality of life
AU - Elting, Linda S.
AU - Keefe, Dorothy M.
AU - Sonis, Stephen T.
AU - Garden, Adam S.
AU - Spijkervet, F. K.L.
AU - Barasch, Andrei
AU - Tishler, Roy B.
AU - Canty, Thomas P.
AU - Kudrimoti, Mahesh K.
AU - Vera-Llonch, Montserrat
PY - 2008/11/15
Y1 - 2008/11/15
N2 - BACKGROUND. The risk, severity, and patient-reported outcomes of radiation-induced mucositis among head and neck cancer patients were prospectively estimated. METHODS. A validated, patient-reported questionnaire (OMDQ), the FACT quality of life (QOL), and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) fatigue scales were used to measure mucositis (reported as mouth and throat soreness), daily functioning, and use of analgesics. Patients were studied before radiotherapy (RT), daily during RT, and for 4 weeks after RT. RESULTS. Contrary to previous reports, the risk of mucositis was virtually identical in the 126 patients with oral cavity or oropharynx tumors (99% overall; 85% grade 3-4) compared with 65 patients with tumors of the larynx or hypopharynx (98% overall; 77% grade 3-4). The mean QOL score decreased significantly during RT, from 85.1 at baseline to 69.0 at Week 6, corresponding with the peak of mucositis severity. The mean functional status score decreased by 33% from 18.3 at baseline to 12.3 at Week 6. The impact of mucositis on QOL was proportional to its severity, although even a score of 1 or 2 (mild or moderate) was associated with a significant reduction in QOL (from 93.6 at baseline to 74.7 at Week 6). Despite increases in analgesic use from 34% at baseline to 80% at Week 6, mean mucositis scores exceeded 2.5 at Week 6. CONCLUSIONS. Mucositis occurs among virtually all patients who are undergoing radiation treatment of head and neck cancers. The detrimental effects on QOL and functional status are significant, and opioid analgesia provides inadequate relief. Preventive rather than symptom palliation measures are needed.
AB - BACKGROUND. The risk, severity, and patient-reported outcomes of radiation-induced mucositis among head and neck cancer patients were prospectively estimated. METHODS. A validated, patient-reported questionnaire (OMDQ), the FACT quality of life (QOL), and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) fatigue scales were used to measure mucositis (reported as mouth and throat soreness), daily functioning, and use of analgesics. Patients were studied before radiotherapy (RT), daily during RT, and for 4 weeks after RT. RESULTS. Contrary to previous reports, the risk of mucositis was virtually identical in the 126 patients with oral cavity or oropharynx tumors (99% overall; 85% grade 3-4) compared with 65 patients with tumors of the larynx or hypopharynx (98% overall; 77% grade 3-4). The mean QOL score decreased significantly during RT, from 85.1 at baseline to 69.0 at Week 6, corresponding with the peak of mucositis severity. The mean functional status score decreased by 33% from 18.3 at baseline to 12.3 at Week 6. The impact of mucositis on QOL was proportional to its severity, although even a score of 1 or 2 (mild or moderate) was associated with a significant reduction in QOL (from 93.6 at baseline to 74.7 at Week 6). Despite increases in analgesic use from 34% at baseline to 80% at Week 6, mean mucositis scores exceeded 2.5 at Week 6. CONCLUSIONS. Mucositis occurs among virtually all patients who are undergoing radiation treatment of head and neck cancers. The detrimental effects on QOL and functional status are significant, and opioid analgesia provides inadequate relief. Preventive rather than symptom palliation measures are needed.
KW - Head and neck cancer
KW - Mucositis
KW - Patient-reported outcomes
KW - Quality of life
KW - Radiation therapy
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U2 - 10.1002/cncr.23898
DO - 10.1002/cncr.23898
M3 - Article
C2 - 18973181
AN - SCOPUS:55849123273
SN - 0008-543X
VL - 113
SP - 2704
EP - 2713
JO - Cancer
JF - Cancer
IS - 10
ER -