A novel method to evaluate salivary flow rates of head and neck cancer patients after radiotherapy: a pilot study

Objective. This study aimed to analyze the effects of comprehensive protection of bilateral parotid glands (PG-T), contralateral submandibular gland (cSMG), and accessory salivary glands in the oral cavity (OC) by helical tomotherapy for head-and-neck cancer patients. Methods. Totally 175 patients with histologically confirmed head-and-neck cancer treated with helical tomotherapy were recruited. The doses delivered to PG-T, cSMG, and OC were constrained to be as low as possible in treatment planning. The saliva flow rates and xerostomia questionnaire were evaluated. Correlation between xerostomia and other clinical factors were assessed using univariate and multivariate models. The impact of salivary gland dose on locoregional (LR) recurrence was assessed by Cox analysis. ROC curve was used to determine the threshold of mean dose for each gland. Results. The median follow-up was 25 (19–36) months. The OC mean dose, PG-T mean dose, cSMG mean dose, age, clinical stage (II and III versus IV), and both unstimulated and stimulated saliva flow rates were significantly correlated with xerostomia. The OC mean dose, cSMG mean dose, age, and clinical stage were predictors of xerostomia after adjusting PG-T mean dose, and unstimulated and stimulated saliva flow rates. Xerostomia was significantly decreased when the mean doses of PG-T, cSMG, and OC were kept below 29.12Gy, 29.29Gy, and 31.44Gy, respectively. At 18 months after radiation therapy, early LR recurrence rate was only 4%. Conclusion. Comprehensive protection of salivary glands minimized xerostomia in head-and-neck cancer patients treated by helical tomotherapy, without increasing early LR recurrence risk.

Download Full-text

An assessment of Oxford Nanopore sequencing for human gut metagenome profiling: A pilot study of head and neck cancer patients

Journal of Microbiological Methods ◽

10.1016/j.mimet.2019.105739 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 166 ◽

pp. 105739 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Thidathip Wongsurawat ◽

Mayumi Nakagawa ◽

Omar Atiq ◽

Hannah N. Coleman ◽

Piroon Jenjaroenpun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Head And Neck Cancer ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Neck Cancer ◽

Nanopore Sequencing ◽

Human Gut ◽

Oxford Nanopore ◽

Gut Metagenome

Download Full-text

Individualised mindfulness-based stress reduction for head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy of curative intent: a descriptive pilot study

European Journal of Cancer Care ◽

10.1111/ecc.12474 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. e12474 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

A. Pollard ◽

J.L. Burchell ◽

D. Castle ◽

K. Neilson ◽

M. Ftanou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Head And Neck Cancer ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Neck Cancer ◽

Stress Reduction ◽

Curative Intent ◽

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

Download Full-text

An Investigation into Body Image Concerns in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Receiving Radiation or Chemoradiation Using the Body Image Scale (BIS): A Pilot Study

Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences ◽

10.1016/j.jmir.2015.12.043 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 47 (1) ◽

pp. S14

Author(s):

Leah Branch ◽

Carina Feuz ◽

Maurene McQuestion

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

Head And Neck Cancer ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Neck Cancer ◽

The Body ◽

Body Image Scale ◽

Body Image Concerns

Download Full-text

Prospective, Longitudinal Quality-of-Life Study of Patients With Head and Neck Cancer: A Feasibility Study Including the EORTC QLQ-C30

Otolaryngology ◽

10.1016/s0194-5998(97)70246-8 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 116 (6) ◽

pp. 666-673 ◽

Cited By ~ 76

Author(s):

Eva Hammerlid ◽

Kristin Bjordal ◽

Marianne Ahlner-ELMQVIST ◽

Magnus Jannert ◽

Stein Kaasa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Head And Neck Cancer ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Neck Cancer ◽

Eortc Qlq C30 ◽

Eortc Qlq

Despite modern advances in the treatment of head and neck cancer, the survival rate fails to improve. Considering the different treatment modalities involved, quality of life has been thought of as an additional end point criterion for use in clinical trials. A Nordic protocol to measure the quality of life of head and neck cancer patients before, during, and after treatment was established. Before the study, a pilot study was done with this protocol. The main purpose of this pilot study was to find out whether this cancer population would answer quality-pf-life questionnaires repeatedly (six times) over a 1-year period and whether the chosen questionnaires—a core questionnaire (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30)), a tumor-specific questionnaire, and a psychological distress measure (Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD))—were sensitive for changes to functions and symptoms during the study year. The results presented in this article all refer to the pilot study. Forty-eight consecutive patients agreed to participate in the study. The most common tumor locations were the oral cavity (17) and the larynx (12). Almost all patients received combined treatment: 45 of 48 radiation therapy, 18 of 48 chemotherapy, and 17 of 48 surgery. After the primary treatment, 40 patients had complete tumor remission. Four of the 48 patients did not answer any questionnaires and were therefore excluded from the study. Of the remaining 44 patients, 3 died during the study year, and another 6 withdrew for various reasons. Thirty-five (85%) of the 41 patients alive at the 1-year follow-up answered all six questionnaires and thus completed the study. Mailed questionnaires were used throughout the study. All questionnaires were well accepted and found to be sensitive to changes during the study year. The greatest variability was found for symptoms and functions related specifically to head and neck cancer. The symptoms were swallowing difficulties, hoarse voice, sore mouth, dry mouth, and problems with taste. They all showed the same pattern, with an increase of symptoms during and just after finishing the treatment. The HAD scale revealed a high level of psychological distress, with 21% probable cases of psychiatric morbidity at diagnosis. In conclusion, it was shown that the study design and questionnaires were feasible for the forthcoming prospective quality-of-life assessment of Swedish and Norwegian head and neck cancer patients.

Download Full-text