Head and neck tumor- patient follow -up care – signs and symptoms to look for

Introduction Tumor follow-up-care of patients with head- and neck cancers is challenging for examiners and requires a multidisciplinary team. The aim of this study was to investigate patients’ common complaints, patients’ psychological state and specific blood values.

Methods The patients ´ common complaints (n = 453) were investigated using the EORTC QLQ-H&N35- survey. To calculate the percentage the top two answers (from a total of four) were added together. Additionally, patients ´ filled out the WHO-Five Well-Being Index (range 0-25) questionnaire to screen for the subjective well-being. Patients with a score <13 were subsequently interviewed with the M.I.N.I-questionaire to evaluate a possible depression. All patients were screened for vitamin D and thyroid hormone levels.

Results With the H&N35-evaluation the most common symptoms were screened. These symptoms in the head and neck were xerostomia (48.3 %), sticky saliva (35.3 %), cough (35.0 %), hypoguesia (31.6 %) and dysphagia of solid foods (31.4 %). The average score of the WHO-5-questionaire was 15.5 points. 25,2 % of the patients had a score of <13 points, and 40.9 % of these patients, who were interviewed via M.I.N.I., were classified as depressed (overall collective 8.5 %). Low vitamin D levels were detected in the majority of patients (85.3 %). Hypothyroidism (latent and manifest) was detected in 11.6 % of patients.

Conclusion The symptoms patients presented with were typical for HNSCC tumor patients, especially following radiation therapy. Psychological support proofed to be an extremely important part of tumor follow-up-care. Vitamin D levels and thyroid hormones should be monitored and when necessary therapy should be initiated.

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Publication History

Article published online:
10 June 2020