Comparative evaluation of quality of life in oral cancer patients undergoing 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy with or without concomitant chemotherapy - A longitudinal study.

Objectives: To assess and compare the quality of life (QOL) in Oral Cancer patients undergoing 3-DCRT with or without concomitant Chemotherapy at three different time intervals.

Materials and methods: This unicentric longitudinal study included 50 patients of oral cancer undergoing 3-DCRT with or without concomitant chemotherapy. QOL was recorded using the EORTC H and N 35 Questionnaire at baseline, end of treatment (EOT), and 3 months after treatment.

Results: Maximum deterioration of most QOL domains were noted at End of treatment (EOT) in all the patients. A highly statistically significant difference was noted between different time intervals with the highest scores noted at the EOT ( P < 0.01). There was a statistically significant difference in patients undergoing 3DCRT with chemotherapy when compared to those with 3DCRT without chemotherapy ( P < 0.05).

Conclusion: There is substantial deterioration in QOL at the EOT after head-neck irradiation by 3-DCRT with or without concomitant Chemotherapy although it gradually improves over time. However, 3DCRT results in clinically meaningful and statistically better QOL scores at 3 months after treatment compared to baseline and EOT.