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Survival and quality of life in oropharyngeal cancer patients treated with primary chemoradiation after salivary gland transfer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 June 2016

G B Morand ,
J Madana ,
S D Da Silva ,
M Roskies ,
K Sultanem ,
M J Black ,
A M Mlynarek  and
M P Hier
G B Morand
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Sir Mortimer B Davis Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
J Madana
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Sir Mortimer B Davis Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
S D Da Silva
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Sir Mortimer B Davis Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
M Roskies
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Sir Mortimer B Davis Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
K Sultanem
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Oncology, Sir Mortimer B Davis Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
M J Black
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Sir Mortimer B Davis Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
A M Mlynarek
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Sir Mortimer B Davis Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
M P Hier*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Sir Mortimer B Davis Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
*
Address for correspondence: Dr M P Hier, Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Sir Mortimer B Davis Jewish General Hospital, 3755 Côte-Ste-Catherine, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3T1E2 Fax: +1 514 843 1403 E-mail: mhier@jgh.mcgill.ca
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Abstract

Objectives:

Salivary gland transfer surgery can reduce xerostomia in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients undergoing primary chemoradiation. A potential drawback of salivary gland transfer is the treatment delay associated with the surgery, and its complications. This study aimed to determine whether the treatment delay affects patient survival and to evaluate patient quality of life after salivary gland transfer.

Methods:

A retrospective analysis of 138 patients (salivary gland transfer group, n = 58; non-salivary gland transfer group, n = 80) was performed. Patient survival was compared between these groups using multivariate analysis. Salivary gland transfer patients were further evaluated for surgical complications and for quality of life using the head and neck module of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire.

Results:

Salivary gland transfer and non-salivary gland transfer patients had comparable baseline clinical characteristics. Salivary gland transfer patients experienced a median treatment delay of 16.5 days before chemoradiation (p = 0.035). Multivariate analysis showed that this did not, however, correspond to a survival disadvantage (p = 0.24 and p = 0.97 for disease-free and disease-specific survival, respectively). A very low complication rate was reported for the salivary gland transfer group (1.7 per cent). Questionnaire scores for the item ‘xerostomia’ were very low in salivary gland transfer patients.

Conclusion:

The treatment delay associated with salivary gland transfer surgery does not negatively affect patient survival. Oropharyngeal squamous cell patients have an excellent quality of life after salivary gland transfer.

Keywords

Salivary GlandsOropharyngeal CancerXerostomiaQuality of LifeRadiotherapy
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 130 , Issue 8 , August 2016 , pp. 755 - 762
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2016 

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Footnotes

Presented as an oral presentation at the International Federation of Head & Neck Oncologic Societies 5th World Congress/American Head & Neck Society 2014 Meeting, 26–30 July 2014, New York City, USA.

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