A national study of health‐related quality of life in patients with cancer of the base of the tongue compared to the general population and to patients with tonsillar carcinoma. Issue 12 (24th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Berg, Malin; Adnan, Ali; Högmo, Anders; Sjödin, Helena; Gebre‐Medhin, Maria; Laurell, Göran; Reizenstein, Johan; Farnebo, Lovisa; Norberg, Lena Spaak; Notstam, Isak; Holmberg, Erik; Cange, Hedda Haugen; Hammerlid, Eva
• Is Part Of: Head & neck. Volume 43:Issue 12(2021)
• Page Start: 3843
• Page End: 3856
• Publication Date: 2021-09-24
• Subjects: cancer of the base of the tongue -- head‐and‐neck cancer -- human papillomavirus -- oropharyngeal cancer -- quality‐of‐life; Head -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neck -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Head -- Periodicals; Neck -- Periodicals; Face -- Periodicals; 617.51059
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.26882
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-3074

Abstract

Abstract: Background: This exploratory, registry‐based, cross‐sectional study aimed to evaluate patients' health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) in a subsite of oropharyngeal cancer: cancer of the base of the tongue (CBT). Methods: CBT patients, treated with curative intent, completed the EORTC QLQ‐C30 and QLQ‐H&N35 questionnaires 15 months after diagnosis. The HRQOL of CBT patients was compared to reference scores from the general population and to that of tonsillar carcinoma patients. Results: The 190 CBT patients scored significantly worse than members of the general population on most scales. CBT patients with human papilloma virus (HPV)‐positive tumors had significantly better HRQOL on 8 of 28 scales than HPV‐negative patients. Compared to 405 tonsillar carcinoma patients, CBT patients had significantly worse HRQOL on 8 of the 28 scales, the majority local head and neck related problems. Conclusion: One year after treatment, CBT patients' HRQOL was significantly worse in many areas compared to that of the general population and slightly worse than that of tonsillar carcinoma patients.