Evaluation of oral mucositis, candidiasis, and quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer treated with a hypofractionated or conventional radiotherapy protocol: a longitudinal, prospective, observational study

Evaluation of oral mucositis, candidiasis, and quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer treated with a hypofractionated or conventional radiotherapy protocol: a longitudinal, prospective, observational study

Due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, recently, Radiotherapy (RT) protocols requiring fewer sessions (hypofractionated) have been used to shorten RT treatment and minimize patient exposure to medical centers, and decrease the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Head & face medicine Vol. 19; no. 1; p. 7
Main Authors: de Vasconcellos Ferreira, Pedro Maciel, Gomes, Marina de Castro Monteiro Franco, Almeida, Ana Clara Speziali Menegazzi, Cornélio, Júlia Soares, Arruda, Thiago Jardim, Mafra, Arnoldo, Nunes, Marcelo Henrique Silva, Salera, Rafael Borges, Nogueira, Raquel Fabiane, Sclauser, Juliana Maria Braga, Drummond-Lage, Ana Paula, Rezende, Bruno Almeida
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 08-03-2023
BioMed Central
BMC
Subjects:
Analysis
Cancer patients
Cancer therapies
Candidiasis
Candidiasis - complications
Care and treatment
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Epidemics
Head & neck cancer
Head and neck cancer
Head and Neck Neoplasms
Head and Neck Neoplasms - radiotherapy
Health aspects
Humans
Medical centers
Mucositis - complications
Observational studies
Observational Studies as Topic
Oral Candidiasis
Oral Mucositis
Prospective Studies
Quality of Life
Radiation Dose Hypofractionation
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy Dose Fractionations
SARS-CoV-2
Severe acute respiratory syndrome
Stomatitis
Stomatitis - drug therapy
Stomatitis - epidemiology
Stomatitis - etiology
World health
Brazil
Quality of Life
Oral Mucositis
Radiation Dose Hypofractionation
Radiotherapy Dose Fractionations
Oral Candidiasis
Head and Neck Neoplasms
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Summary:Due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, recently, Radiotherapy (RT) protocols requiring fewer sessions (hypofractionated) have been used to shorten RT treatment and minimize patient exposure to medical centers, and decrease the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This longitudinal, prospective, observational study aimed to compare the quality of life (QoL) and the incidence of oral mucositis and candidiasis in 66 patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) who undergo a hypofractionated RT protocol (GHipo), total of 55 Gy for 4 weeks, or a conventional RT protocol (GConv), total of 66 - 70 Gy for 6 - 7 weeks. To assess the incidence and severity of oral mucositis, the incidence of candidiasis, and QoL were evaluated using the World Health Organization scale, clinical evaluation, and the QLC-30 and H&N-35 questionnaires, respectively, at the beginning and the end of RT. The incidence of candidiasis did not show differences between the two groups. However, at the end of RT, mucositis had a higher incidence (p < 0.01) and severity (p < 0.05) in GHipo. QoL was not markedly different between the two groups. Although mucositis worsened in patients treated with hypofractionated RT, QoL did not worsen for patients on this regimen. Our results open perspectives for the potential use of RT protocols for HNC with fewer sessions in conditions that require faster, cheaper, and more practical treatments.
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ISSN:1746-160X
1746-160X
DOI:10.1186/s13005-023-00356-3