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Multicenter Study
. 2017 Nov;23(8):1134-1143.
doi: 10.1111/odi.12710. Epub 2017 Aug 3.

Oral complications at 6 months after radiation therapy for head and neck cancer

R V Lalla  1 , N Treister  2   3 , T Sollecito  4   5 , B Schmidt  6 , L L Patton  7 , K Mohammadi  8 , J S Hodges  8 , M T Brennan  9 ; OraRad Study Group
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Oral complications at 6 months after radiation therapy for head and neck cancer

R V Lalla et al. Oral Dis. 2017 Nov.

Abstract

Objective: To examine oral complications 6 months after modern radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC).

Methods: Prospective multicenter cohort study of patients with HNC receiving intensity-modulated radiation therapy or more advanced RT. Stimulated whole salivary flow, maximal mouth opening, oral mucositis, oral pain, oral health-related quality of life (OH-QOL), and oral hygiene practices were measured in 372 subjects pre-RT and 216 subjects at 6 months from the start of RT.

Results: Mean stimulated whole salivary flow declined from 1.09 to 0.47 ml/min at 6 months (p < .0001). Mean maximal mouth opening reduced from 45.58 to 42.53 mm at 6 months (p < .0001). 8.1% of subjects had some oral mucositis at 6 months, including 3.8% with oral ulceration. Mean overall pain score was unchanged. OH-QOL was reduced at 6 months, with changes related to dry mouth, sticky saliva, swallowing solid foods, and sense of taste (p ≤ .0001). At 6 months, there was greater frequency of using dental floss and greater proportion using supplemental fluoride (p < .0001).

Conclusions: Despite advances in RT techniques, patients with HNC experience oral complications 6 months after RT, with resulting negative impacts on oral function and quality of life.

Keywords: head and neck cancer; mouth opening; oral complications; quality of life; radiation therapy; salivary flow.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

None to declare.

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