A prospective quality of life study of patients with laryngeal carcinoma by tumor stage and different radiation therapy schedules

Laryngoscope. 1998 May;108(5):747-59. doi: 10.1097/00005537-199805000-00023.

Abstract

This study was designed to prospectively monitor the quality of life of laryngeal cancer patients, to compare the quality of life of patients with small tumors with that of patients with large tumors, and to test any quality of life difference in patients with small tumors treated with conventional versus hyperfractioned accelerated radiation therapy. Patients having had a laryngectomy within the study year were also analyzed separately. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Core Questionnaire (QLQ-C30), the EORTC Head and Neck Module (H&N-37), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale were administered six times during 1 year. These questionnaires were found to be suitable for measuring laryngeal cancer patients' quality of life longitudinally. The questionnaires were sensitive to differences in quality of life for small versus large tumors and showed that hyperfractioned accelerated radiation therapy was advantageous compared with conventional radiation therapy with respect to quality of life at the 1-year follow-up.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Laryngectomy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prospective Studies
  • Quality of Life*
  • Radiotherapy Dosage
  • Surveys and Questionnaires