Health-Related Quality of Life in Oral Cancer: A Review

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Health-Related Quality of Life in Oral Cancer: A Review
March 2006
Arun Chandu, BDSc, MBBS(Hons), RCS(Eng) (FDS, FRACDS(OMS))⁎, Andrew C.H. Smith, BDS, MDSc, RCS(Eng) (FDS, FDSRCPS, FRACDS(OMS))‹, Simon N. Rogers, RCS(Eng) (FDS, FRCS MD)·
Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Purpose
Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has now become an important outcome measure in the assessment of patients treated for oral cancer. We summarize the influence of various factors in the treatment of oral cancer on HRQOL after surgery.

Methods
A review of the current literature was carried out.

Results
Site-specific assessment of HRQOL should be encouraged, rather than assessment of head and neck cancer as a whole. In general the long-term HRQOL of oral cancer patients seems good with HRQOL at 1 year being equivalent to long-term HRQOL. A number of different patient and treatment factors were identified that affect HRQOL. These include age, gender, site, stage, emotional status, smoking and alcohol, marital status and income, performance status, method of reconstruction, access, mandibular resection, neck dissection, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, and post-operative radiotherapy.

Conclusions
HRQOL should be considered as part of the overall process of care for oral cancer patients.

⁎ Clinical Fellow, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.

‹ Associate Professor, School of Dental Science, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

· Consultant, Regional Maxillofacial Unit, University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Smith: School of Dental Science, University of Melbourne, Swanson St, Carlton 3053, Victoria, Australia

PII: S0278-2391(05)01835-5

doi:10.1016/j.joms.2005.11.028

© 2006 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2007 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved

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