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Quality of life after free-flap reconstruction in patients with oral and pharyngeal cancer.

AbstractBACKGROUND:
Our aim was to investigate quality of life and outcome after microvascular free-flap reconstruction after oncologic surgery.
METHODS:
Forty-four patients with a large carcinoma in the oral cavity, oral pharynx, or hypopharynx underwent free-flap surgery with or without radiotherapy. Patients completed the University of Washington Quality-of-Life Questionnaire preoperatively and four times during the 12 postoperative months. Survival rates and complications were analyzed.
RESULTS:
Postoperative composite quality-of-life scores were significantly lower than before treatment with no significant overall improvement during the follow-up. The scores for disfigurement, chewing, speech, and shoulder function remained significantly below the preoperative level throughout the follow-up. Sociodemographic factors predicted quality of life. Heavy drinking and unemployment caused a 2.4-fold and a 4.4-fold increase in risk of death, respectively. The rates for overall survival, tumor recurrence, flap success, and surgical complications were consistent with previous literature.
CONCLUSION:
Sociodemographic variables affect quality of life and patient survival in patients with oral cancer treated with microvascular free-flap reconstruction.
AuthorsMari Markkanen-Leppänen, Antti A Mäkitie, Marja-Leena Haapanen, Erkki Suominen, Sirpa Asko-Seljavaara
JournalHead & neck (Head Neck) Vol. 28 Issue 3 Pg. 210-6 (Mar 2006) ISSN: 1043-3074 [Print] United States
PMID16284977 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Copyright(c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Topics
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alcohol Drinking (adverse effects)
  • Comorbidity
  • Educational Status
  • Esthetics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microsurgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Mouth Neoplasms (mortality, psychology, surgery)
  • Pharyngeal Neoplasms (mortality, psychology, surgery)
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Postoperative Period
  • Preoperative Care
  • Prospective Studies
  • Quality of Life
  • Sex Factors
  • Surgical Flaps
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Unemployment

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