A Prospective Study of the Incidence of Chronic Xerostomia and the Quality of Life in Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Malignancies with IMRT or VMAT Techniques.

BACKGROUND

Radiation therapy in Head and neck cancers often leads to xerostomia which often leads to a decline in quality of life. The aim of the study was to compare xerostomia among cancer patients undergoing IMRT and VMAT techniques for head and neck malignancies and follow them up via quality of life assessment.

METHODOLOGY: It was a hospital based prospective study with follow up at 0, 3 and 6 months among total 80 patients divided in 2 groups of VMAT and IMRT respectively. Patients were assessed using a quality of life questionnaire. Data analysis was done using SPSS 25.0

Results

It was observed that there was no significant difference between the two groups for xerostomia and quality of life over the follow up period. However, there was improvement of symptoms over time in both groups.

DISCUSSION: Similar results were observed in other international studies as well with respect to the quality of life.

CONCLUSION

It was found that both technologies were similar when it came to treatment related xerostomia in patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck malignancies with either technique.