Xiuhong Ge1, Zhengluan Liao2, Jianhua Yuan3, Dewang Mao3, Yumei Li3, Enyan Yu4, Xunheng Wang5, Zhongxiang Ding6. 1. Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 261 Huansha Rd, Hangzhou, 310006, China. 2. Department of Psychiatry, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, 158 Shangtang Rd, Hangzhou, 310014, China. 3. Department of Radiology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, 158 Shangtang Rd, Hangzhou, 310014, China. 4. Department of Psychiatry, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, 158 Shangtang Rd, Hangzhou, 310014, China. yuenyan@aliyun.com. 5. College of Life Information Science and Instrument Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, 310018, China. 6. Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 261 Huansha Rd, Hangzhou, 310006, China. hangzhoudzx73@126.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To compare effects of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with those of conventional radiotherapy on quality of life (QoL) and severity of xerostomia in patients with head and neck cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases were searched to July 1, 2019, to identify relevant studies, using the following terms: radiotherapy, head and neck cancer, quality of life, cognition, xerostomia, two-/three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy, IMRT, conformal proton beam radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, and volumetric modulated arc therapy. The outcomes of interest were QoL measured by global health status; emotional, social, and cognitive function; and severity of xerostomia. RESULTS: Seven studies with a total of 761 patients (n = 369 with IMRT; n = 392 with conventional RT) were included in this study. Median patient age was 18-65 years. IMRT group patients had better global health status (pooled standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.80, 95% CI 0.26 to 1.35, P = 0.004) and cognitive function (pooled SMD = 0.30, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.54, P = 0.013) than the conventional RT group. Patients receiving IMRT also had significantly lower scores for xerostomia than those receiving conventional RT (pooled SMD = - 0.60, 95% CI - 0.97 to - 0.24, P = 0.001). No differences were found in emotional function (P = 0.531) and social function (P = 0.348) between the two groups. CONCLUSION: IMRT significantly improves QoL and reduces the severity of xerostomia in patients with head and neck cancer. Results of this study provide clinicians with guidelines for decisions on the use of IMRT versus conventional RT.
OBJECTIVES: To compare effects of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with those of conventional radiotherapy on quality of life (QoL) and severity of xerostomia in patients with head and neck cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases were searched to July 1, 2019, to identify relevant studies, using the following terms: radiotherapy, head and neck cancer, quality of life, cognition, xerostomia, two-/three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy, IMRT, conformal proton beam radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, and volumetric modulated arc therapy. The outcomes of interest were QoL measured by global health status; emotional, social, and cognitive function; and severity of xerostomia. RESULTS: Seven studies with a total of 761 patients (n = 369 with IMRT; n = 392 with conventional RT) were included in this study. Median patient age was 18-65 years. IMRT group patients had better global health status (pooled standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.80, 95% CI 0.26 to 1.35, P = 0.004) and cognitive function (pooled SMD = 0.30, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.54, P = 0.013) than the conventional RT group. Patients receiving IMRT also had significantly lower scores for xerostomia than those receiving conventional RT (pooled SMD = - 0.60, 95% CI - 0.97 to - 0.24, P = 0.001). No differences were found in emotional function (P = 0.531) and social function (P = 0.348) between the two groups. CONCLUSION: IMRT significantly improves QoL and reduces the severity of xerostomia in patients with head and neck cancer. Results of this study provide clinicians with guidelines for decisions on the use of IMRT versus conventional RT.
Entities:
Keywords:
Conventional radiation therapy; Dry mouth; Head and neck cancer; Intensity-modulated radiotherapy; Quality of life
Authors: Harim Tavares Dos Santos; Kihoon Nam; Jason P Hunt; Luke O Buchmann; Marcus M Monroe; Olga J Baker Journal: J Histochem Cytochem Date: 2021-08 Impact factor: 4.137