1. Oral mucositis is associated with increased resource use among patients receiving treatment for cancers of the head and neck
- Author
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Stephen T. Sonis, Andrei Barasch, R. Tischler, Gerry Oster, Michael T. Brennan, Adam S. Garden, Dorothy M. K. Keefe, Andy Trotti, Montserrat Vera-Llonch, and Linda S. Elting
- Subjects
Oncology ,Cancer Research ,medicine.medical_specialty ,business.industry ,medicine.disease ,stomatognathic diseases ,Internal medicine ,Toxicity ,otorhinolaryngologic diseases ,medicine ,Mucositis ,Resource use ,business ,Head and neck - Abstract
6070 Background: Oral mucositis (OM) is the oral manifestation of mucosal injury (MUI), and is a common, bothersome, and treatment-interrupting toxicity of chemoradiation therapy for squamous cell cancers (SCC) of the head and neck. Retrospective studies have reported that OM increases healthcare resource use. We present interim results of an international, multicenter, prospective study undertaken to characterize the clinical and economic burden of OM in patients with cancers of the oral cavity (OC), oropharynx (OP), larynx (L) and hypopharynx (HP). Methods: Patients (pts) with histologically proven SCC of the designated anatomical sites, whose planned treatment included full-cycle conventional or intensity modulated (IM) radiation therapy (RT) with or without chemotherapy, were enrolled at least one week prior to the start of treatment. Pts completed the Oral Mucositis Daily Questionnaire (OMDQ), a validated questionnaire developed to document patient-reported symptoms of OM and MUI including mouth and throat soreness (MTS), at baseline and daily throughout RT. MTS was assessed using a 5-point numeric rating scale, ranging from 0 (“no soreness”) to 4 (“extreme soreness”). Results: Of the first 61 pts to complete RT, 72% had cancers of the OC or OP, 49% received IMRT with concomitant chemotherapy, and 68% were male. 95% of pts reported OM symptoms (MTS>0); 80% had one or more scores =2. Pts with OC or OP cancers reported more symptoms than those with L or HP tumors (mean maximum score: 3.3 vs 2.8; p= 0.12). MTS scores were positively related to levels of resource use. Conclusions: Symptoms of radiation-induced OM are positively correlated with levels of resource utilization in patients with head and neck cancers. No significant financial relationships to disclose. [Table: see text]
- Published
- 2007
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