Quality of life after different treatment modalities for carcinoma of the oropharynx

Objectives: To assess the long-term posttreatment quality of life of patients with carcinoma of the oropharynx treated with different treatment modalities. Study Design: Retrospective chart review and patient response to EORTC quality of life core questionnaire QLQ-C30 and EORTC quality of life core head and neck cancer module QLQ-H&N35 questionnaires. Methods: Two hundred and seventeen patients with carcinoma of the oropharynx were treated with curative intent between 1990 and 1998. In January 2001, a total of 111 disease-free survivors were identified and included in this study. The questionnaires were completed by 99 patients (89% completion rate). Results: Of 99 patients, 31 patients were treated with surgery alone, 19 with radiation therapy alone and 49 with surgery followed by postoperative irradiation. Median follow-up for the entire study group was 71 months. Physical, role, emotional, cognitive and social functioning reflected in the functional scale scores of the global EORTC QLQ-C30 were generally good and showed no significant differences for the different treatment modalities. Comparison of the head and neck specific EORTC QLQ-H&N35 scores revealed significantly less troubles with swallowing (P = 0.006), social eating (P = 0.007) and social contact (P = 0.008), dry mouth (P