Sensorineural hearing loss after concurrent chemoradiotherapy with high-dose cisplatin in head and neck cancer patients: Roles of nutrition and trace elements.

OBJECTIVE

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is one of the most important adverse events of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with high-dose cisplatin for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This retrospective study aimed to elucidate the effects of nutritional status and trace elements on the development of SNHL.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 211 ears from 109 patients with HNSCC who underwent CCRT with high-dose cisplatin was performed. SNHL of each ear was classified according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0, and possible contributing factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. Age, sex, primary site, clinical stage, treatment intent, smoking and drinking habits, history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, body mass index, serum albumin, trace elements (Fe, Zn, Cu, Se), pretreatment average hearing level at 2-8 kHz, weight loss rate, cumulative cisplatin dose, and inner ear radiation dose were the variables evaluated.

RESULTS

Ordinal logistic regression analysis showed that increased age, better pretreatment average hearing level at 2-8 kHz, and cumulative cisplatin dose were independent factors associated with the development of SNHL.

CONCLUSION

Nutritional status and trace elements were not associated with the development of SNHL caused by CCRT with high-dose cisplatin.