Long-term toxicities in 10-year survivors of radiation treatment for head and neck cancer

Publication date: August 2017
Source:Oral Oncology, Volume 71
Author(s): Yanqun Dong, John A. Ridge, Tianyu Li, Miriam N. Lango, Thomas M. Churilla, Jessica R. Bauman, Thomas J. Galloway
ObjectivesTo characterize the recognized but poorly understood long-term toxicities of radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC).Materials and methodsWe retrospectively evaluated patients treated with curative-intent RT for HNC between 1990 and 2005 at a single institution with systematic multidisciplinary follow-up ≥10years. Long-term toxicities of the upper aerodigestive tract were recorded and assigned to two broad categories: pharyngeal-laryngeal and oral cavity toxicity. Kaplan-Meier estimates and Chi-square tests were used for univariable analysis (UVA). Cox model and logistic regression were used for multivariable analysis (MVA).ResultsWe identified 112 patients with follow-up ≥10years (median 12.2). The primary tumor sites were pharynx (42%), oral cavity (34%), larynx (13%), and other (11%). Forty-four percent received postoperative RT, 24% had post-RT neck dissection, and 47% received chemotherapy.Twenty-eight (25%) patients developed pharyngeal-laryngeal toxicity, including 23 (21%) requiring permanent G-tube placed at median of 5.6years (0–20.3) post-RT. Fifty-three (47%) developed oral cavity toxicity, including osteoradionecrosis in 25 (22%) at a median of 7.2years (0.5–15.3) post-RT.On MVA, pharyngeal-laryngeal toxicity was significantly associated with chemotherapy (HR 3.24, CI 1.10–9.49) and age (HR 1.04, CI 1.00–1.08); oral cavity toxicity was significantly associated with chemotherapy (OR 4.40, CI 1.51–12.9), oral cavity primary (OR 5.03, CI 1.57–16.1), and age (OR 0.96, CI 0.92–1.00).ConclusionAmong irradiated HNC patients, pharyngeal-laryngeal and oral cavity toxicity commonly occur years after radiation, especially in those treated with chemotherapy. Follow-up for more than five years is essential because these significant problems afflict patients who have been cured.



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