Compromised quality of life in adult patients who have received a radiation dose towards the basal part of the brain. A case-control study in long-term survivors from cancer in the head and neck region

Radiation Oncology

Gudmundur Johannsson²  Lena Wiren²  Erik Olsson⁴  Claes Mercke³  Helge Malmgren⁵  Maria Leonsson Zachrisson²  Karl-Axel Johansson¹  Gertrud Berg³  Elisabet Löfdahl³ 

[1] Departments Radiation Physics, Gothenburg, Sweden;Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Grona straket 8, SE-413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden;Departments of Oncology, Gothenburg, Sweden;Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sahlgrenska Academy and University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden;Department of Philosophy, Linguistics and Theory of Science, Gothenburg, Sweden

关键词: Long-term survivors;    Low-dose-radiation;    CNS;    Quality of life;    Head-and-neck cancer;    Growth hormone;   

Others  :  1155140
DOI  :  10.1186/1748-717X-7-179

 received in 2012-06-20, accepted in 2012-10-21,  发布年份 2012

【 摘 要 】

Background

Adult patients with hypothalamic-pituitary disorders have compromised quality of life (QoL). Whether this is due to their endocrine consequences (hypopituitarism), their underlying hypothalamic-pituitary disorder or both is still under debate. The aim of this trial was to measure quality of life (QoL) in long-term cancer survivors who have received a radiation dose to the basal part of the brain and the pituitary.

Methods

Consecutive patients (n=101) treated for oropharyngeal or epipharyngeal cancer with radiotherapy followed free of cancer for a period of 4 to10 years were identified. Fifteen patients (median age 56 years) with no concomitant illness and no hypopituitarism after careful endocrine evaluation were included in a case-control study with matched healthy controls. Doses to the hypothalamic-pituitary region were calculated. QoL was assessed using the Symptom check list (SCL)-90, Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), and Psychological Well Being (PGWB) questionnaires. Level of physical activity was assessed using the Baecke questionnaire.

Results

The median accumulated dose was 1.9 Gy (1.5–2.2 Gy) to the hypothalamus and 2.4 Gy (1.8–3.3 Gy) to the pituitary gland in patients with oropharyngeal cancer and 6.0–9.3 Gy and 33.5–46.1 Gy, respectively in patients with epipharyngeal cancer (n=2). The patients showed significantly more anxiety and depressiveness, and lower vitality, than their matched controls.

Conclusion

In a group of long time survivors of head and neck cancer who hade received a low radiation dose to the hypothalamic-pituitary region and who had no endocrine consequences of disease or its treatment QoL was compromised as compared with well matched healthy controls.

【 授权许可】

   
2012 Löfdahl et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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