Affiliation:
1. Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, M.G.V’s K.B.H Dental College and Hospital, Nashik, Maharashtra, India
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Objectives:
To assess and compare the quality of life (QOL) in Oral Cancer patients undergoing 3-DCRT with or without concomitant Chemotherapy at three different time intervals.
Materials and Methods:
This unicentric longitudinal study included 50 patients of oral cancer undergoing 3-DCRT with or without concomitant chemotherapy. QOL was recorded using the EORTC H and N 35 Questionnaire at baseline, end of treatment (EOT), and 3 months after treatment.
Results:
Maximum deterioration of most QOL domains were noted at End of treatment (EOT) in all the patients. A highly statistically significant difference was noted between different time intervals with the highest scores noted at the EOT (P < 0.01). There was a statistically significant difference in patients undergoing 3DCRT with chemotherapy when compared to those with 3DCRT without chemotherapy (P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
There is substantial deterioration in QOL at the EOT after head–neck irradiation by 3-DCRT with or without concomitant Chemotherapy although it gradually improves over time. However, 3DCRT results in clinically meaningful and statistically better QOL scores at 3 months after treatment compared to baseline and EOT.