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

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.

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures of Psychosocial Quality of Life in Oropharyngeal Cancer Patients: A Scoping Review

“…Berg performed a cross-sectional study comparing BOT cancer patients (n = 190) to tonsillar cancer patients (n = 405) and to the general population (n = 190) [ 30 ]. This research identified better emotional function in the patients with HPV-associated OSPCC than in the HPV-negative patients on the EORTC QLQ-C30.…”

“…Berg did not identify any significant difference in social domain of the EORTC QLQ-C30 or in the EORTC QLQ-HN35 scores in BOT OPSCC patients who underwent different treatment modalities [ 30 ]. Kaffenberger did not identify differences in UW-QOL social scores when comparing CRT to surgery with adjuvant RT or CRT [ 27 ].…”

“…However, mixed-model analysis did not demonstrate a significant difference between HPV-positive and negative patients on social contact and social eating domains. There was no difference in social scores in HPV-positive and HPV-negative patients in the two studies that performed this comparison (Berg, Dziegielewski) [ 30 , 38 ].…”

“…Berg commented on sexuality in the context of a comparison of BOT cancer patients (n = 190) to patients with tonsillar carcinoma (n = 405) and to the general population (n = 190) [ 30 ]. Those treated with radiotherapy alone reported worse sexuality scores on the EORTC QLQ-HN35 than those who had surgery with adjuvant CRT (40 versus 28).…”

“…Berg reported no difference in depression, anxiety, or social quality of life scores when comparing OPSCC patients treated with primary CRT versus surgery with adjuvant RT/CRT [ 30 ]. Kaffenberger showed that patients receiving higher doses of RT to the ipsilateral parotid gland experienced higher anxiety levels and worse social function [ 27 ].…”