Auditory effects after organ preservation protocol for laryngeal/hypopharyngeal carcinomas

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of hearing loss after concomitant radiochemotherapy in patients enrolled in a larynx preservation protocol.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Consecutive patients treated in a tertiary cancer center hospital between 2001 and 2002.

Patients: Eligible subjects included patients prospectively enrolled in an organ preservation protocol based on concomitant radiotherapy and chemotherapy (cisplatin and paclitaxel).

Main outcome measures: Descriptive analysis of the results of audiologic evaluations, including pure-tone audiometry and immitance audiometry, which were performed prior to and 8 months after treatment. Change in hearing sensitivity was computed relative to baseline measures. Criteria to indicate hearing decrease after the treatment were defined as either a 20-dB decrease at any single test frequency or a 10-dB decrease at any 2 adjacent test frequencies.

Results: A total of 11 patients were analyzed. Four patients (36%) had hearing loss after the treatment.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that the prevalence of hearing loss after radiochemotherapy in larynx preservation protocols is high (36%); however, it was usually mild and asymptomatic.