Patients with head and neck cancer cured by radiation therapy: a survey of the dry mouth syndrome in long-term survivors. 2002

Oda B Wijers, and Peter C Levendag, and Mirjam M J Braaksma, and Meindert Boonzaaijer, and Leo L Visch, and Paul I M Schmitz
Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Rotterdam-Daniel, Groene Hilledijk 301, 3075 EA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

BACKGROUND Xerostomia can have a significant impact on the quality of life of patients treated by radiation therapy (RT) for cancer in the head and neck. The first aim of the study was to evaluate the degree of xerostomia in 39 long-term survivors treated between 1965-1995 by conventional two-dimensional radiation therapy and currently without evidence of disease. The second aim was to develop a concise instrument to evaluate the subjective aspects of xerostomia. METHODS A newly developed questionnaire and a visual analog scale (VAS) were used in analyzing the degree of dry mouth and xerostomia-related problems. The radiation dose received by the major salivary glands was estimated by analyzing two-dimensional simulation films. RESULTS Sixty-four percent of the patients experienced a moderate to severe degree of xerostomia. In the multivariate analysis, three questions regarding dry mouth, eating, and speech were particularly discriminatory for establishing the degree of xerostomia as expressed by the VAS score. CONCLUSIONS In this survey, 64% of the long-term survivors, after treatment by conventional two-dimensional radiation therapy for a malignancy in the head and neck region, still experienced a moderate to severe degree of permanent xerostomia. A simplified instrument to evaluate xerostomia subjectively can consist of the VAS score and three graded questions.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D011795 Surveys and Questionnaires Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions. Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D011832 Radiation Injuries Harmful effects of non-experimental exposure to ionizing or non-ionizing radiation in VERTEBRATES. Radiation Sickness,Radiation Syndrome,Injuries, Radiation,Injury, Radiation,Radiation Injury,Radiation Sicknesses,Radiation Syndromes,Sickness, Radiation,Sicknesses, Radiation,Syndrome, Radiation,Syndromes, Radiation
D011878 Radiotherapy The use of IONIZING RADIATION to treat malignant NEOPLASMS and some benign conditions. Radiotherapy, Targeted,Targeted Radiotherapy,Radiation Therapy,Radiation Therapy, Targeted,Radiation Treatment,Targeted Radiation Therapy,Radiation Therapies,Radiation Therapies, Targeted,Radiation Treatments,Radiotherapies,Radiotherapies, Targeted,Targeted Radiation Therapies,Targeted Radiotherapies,Therapies, Radiation,Therapies, Targeted Radiation,Therapy, Radiation,Therapy, Targeted Radiation,Treatment, Radiation
D011879 Radiotherapy Dosage The total amount of radiation absorbed by tissues as a result of radiotherapy. Dosage, Radiotherapy,Dosages, Radiotherapy,Radiotherapy Dosages
D012044 Regression Analysis Procedures for finding the mathematical function which best describes the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. In linear regression (see LINEAR MODELS) the relationship is constrained to be a straight line and LEAST-SQUARES ANALYSIS is used to determine the best fit. In logistic regression (see LOGISTIC MODELS) the dependent variable is qualitative rather than continuously variable and LIKELIHOOD FUNCTIONS are used to find the best relationship. In multiple regression, the dependent variable is considered to depend on more than a single independent variable. Regression Diagnostics,Statistical Regression,Analysis, Regression,Analyses, Regression,Diagnostics, Regression,Regression Analyses,Regression, Statistical,Regressions, Statistical,Statistical Regressions
D002908 Chronic Disease Diseases which have one or more of the following characteristics: they are permanent, leave residual disability, are caused by nonreversible pathological alteration, require special training of the patient for rehabilitation, or may be expected to require a long period of supervision, observation, or care (Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed). For epidemiological studies chronic disease often includes HEART DISEASES; STROKE; CANCER; and diabetes (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 2). Chronic Condition,Chronic Illness,Chronically Ill,Chronic Conditions,Chronic Diseases,Chronic Illnesses,Condition, Chronic,Disease, Chronic,Illness, Chronic
D005260 Female Females
D006258 Head and Neck Neoplasms Soft tissue tumors or cancer arising from the mucosal surfaces of the LIP; oral cavity; PHARYNX; LARYNX; and cervical esophagus. Other sites included are the NOSE and PARANASAL SINUSES; SALIVARY GLANDS; THYROID GLAND and PARATHYROID GLANDS; and MELANOMA and non-melanoma skin cancers of the head and neck. (from Holland et al., Cancer Medicine, 4th ed, p1651) Cancer of Head and Neck,Head Cancer,Head Neoplasm,Head and Neck Cancer,Head and Neck Neoplasm,Neck Cancer,Neck Neoplasm,Neck Neoplasms,Neoplasms, Upper Aerodigestive Tract,UADT Neoplasm,Upper Aerodigestive Tract Neoplasm,Upper Aerodigestive Tract Neoplasms,Cancer of Head,Cancer of Neck,Cancer of the Head,Cancer of the Head and Neck,Cancer of the Neck,Head Neoplasms,Head, Neck Neoplasms,Neoplasms, Head,Neoplasms, Head and Neck,Neoplasms, Neck,UADT Neoplasms,Cancer, Head,Cancer, Neck,Cancers, Head,Cancers, Neck,Head Cancers,Neck Cancers,Neoplasm, Head,Neoplasm, Neck,Neoplasm, UADT,Neoplasms, UADT

Related Publications

Oda B Wijers, and Peter C Levendag, and Mirjam M J Braaksma, and Meindert Boonzaaijer, and Leo L Visch, and Paul I M Schmitz
September 2004, Oncology (Williston Park, N.Y.),
Oda B Wijers, and Peter C Levendag, and Mirjam M J Braaksma, and Meindert Boonzaaijer, and Leo L Visch, and Paul I M Schmitz
September 2013, JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery,
Oda B Wijers, and Peter C Levendag, and Mirjam M J Braaksma, and Meindert Boonzaaijer, and Leo L Visch, and Paul I M Schmitz
February 2014, Psycho-oncology,
Oda B Wijers, and Peter C Levendag, and Mirjam M J Braaksma, and Meindert Boonzaaijer, and Leo L Visch, and Paul I M Schmitz
January 2022, Cells,
Oda B Wijers, and Peter C Levendag, and Mirjam M J Braaksma, and Meindert Boonzaaijer, and Leo L Visch, and Paul I M Schmitz
June 2018, International journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery,
Oda B Wijers, and Peter C Levendag, and Mirjam M J Braaksma, and Meindert Boonzaaijer, and Leo L Visch, and Paul I M Schmitz
August 2017, Oral oncology,
Oda B Wijers, and Peter C Levendag, and Mirjam M J Braaksma, and Meindert Boonzaaijer, and Leo L Visch, and Paul I M Schmitz
April 2005, Head & neck,
Oda B Wijers, and Peter C Levendag, and Mirjam M J Braaksma, and Meindert Boonzaaijer, and Leo L Visch, and Paul I M Schmitz
July 1993, Clinics in plastic surgery,
Oda B Wijers, and Peter C Levendag, and Mirjam M J Braaksma, and Meindert Boonzaaijer, and Leo L Visch, and Paul I M Schmitz
April 1995, Medsurg nursing : official journal of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses,
Oda B Wijers, and Peter C Levendag, and Mirjam M J Braaksma, and Meindert Boonzaaijer, and Leo L Visch, and Paul I M Schmitz
January 2024, Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!