Neurologic sequelae following radiation with and without chemotherapy for oropharyngeal cancer: Patient reported outcomes study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

There is little data describing neurocognitive late sequelae in patients treated for oropharyngeal cancer.

METHODS:

Using PROs, scores for "numbness/tingling" and "difficulty remembering" were assessed. Wilcoxon testing was utilized to compare mean assessment scores (1-10) between treatment subgroups.

RESULTS:

Four-hundred ninety-seven patients were evaluated and 267 (54%) received chemotherapy. The mean score for numbness/tingling for patients receiving radiation alone was 0.99 and for each chemotherapy subgroup were: Induction chemotherapy (IC), 1.35 (n = 99); concurrent chemotherapy (CCRT), 1.04 (n = 111) and IC + CCRT, 2.48 (n = 57); 30% of patients who received IC + CCRT had scores ≥5. The mean scores for difficulty remembering were XRT: 1.44, chemotherapy: 1.45, and IC + CCRT subgroup: 2.42.

CONCLUSIONS:

The symptom burden related to peripheral neuropathy and cognitive complaints was minimal. A minority of patients reported high burdens. Particularly, 30% of patients receiving IC + CCRT described moderate to severe numbness/tingling.

• Authors: Adam S Garden, Mona Kamal, Abdallah S R Mohamed, Steven J Frank, Jan S Lewin, Stephen Y Lai, William H Morrison, Jack Phan, Renata Ferrarotto, David I Rosenthal, Katherine A Hutcheson, Clifton D Fuller, Gary B Gunn
• Journal: Head & neck (Head Neck) Vol. 42 Issue 8 Pg. 2137-2144 (08 2020) ISSN: 1097-0347 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 32212359 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)
• Copyright: © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Topics

• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
• Chemoradiotherapy (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Induction Chemotherapy
• Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
• Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Oropharyngeal Neoplasms (therapy)
• Patient Reported Outcome Measures