International Journal of Radiation Research

en Long-term study of vocal dysfunction and quality of life in patients with non-laryngeal head and neck cancers post chemo-radiation therapy: Results of prospective analysis Radiation Biology Radiation Biology تحقيق بديع Original Research <div style="text-align: justify;">Background: Vocal problems caused by Chemo-radiation therapy (CRT) can affect a patient’s quality of life (QOL) for a long time. This study aims to follow up and evaluate the voice of Persian-speaking patients with non-laryngeal head and neck cancer up to eighteen months after treatment. Material and Methods: This prospective study was conducted to assess the voice of disease-free patients with various head and neck malignancies treated with CRT. The voice assessment was conducted at four points: before, at the end of treatment, and six and eighteen months after treatment. At the time of the last assessment, there were only 30 patients with an average age of 48.86±14.89 and in the range of (18-75) years. For a comprehensive assessment, acoustic, expert-rater, and subjective evaluation of voice was conducted. The Pearson correlation coefficient for all acoustic parameters, subgroups of the Persian VHI-30 questionnaire, and perceptual measurements were computed. The effect of essential factors on patient QOL associated with the voice in different groups was examined. Results: All acoustic parameters, other than fundamental and habitual frequencies, subjective and perceptual data values increased significantly (P < 0.001) during the treatment and decreased at the last assessment. None of the values have returned to pre-treatment levels. There was a significant relationship between some acoustic parameters, Persian VHI-30 questionnaire values, and G on the GRBAS scale. Chemotherapy and smoking were influential factors in patients' QOL. Conclusions: Vocal problems and reduced voice related QOL in patients treated with CRT may persist for years after treatment.</div> Quality of life, radiation therapy, non-laryngeal cancers, voice evaluation. 227 232 http://ijrr.com/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1-1032&slc_lang=en&sid=1 P. Fadavi 7900319475328460023477 7900319475328460023477 No Department of Radiotherapy, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical science, Tehran, Iran S. Bagherzadeh sakineh.bagherzadeh@yahoo.com 7900319475328460023478 7900319475328460023478 Yes Medical Physics Department, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran F. Torabinezhad 7900319475328460023479 7900319475328460023479 No Department of Speech & Language Pathology, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran F. Goli-Ahmadabad 7900319475328460023480 7900319475328460023480 No Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran M. Beiki 7900319475328460023481 7900319475328460023481 No Department of Radiation Oncology, Shohadaye Haftom-e-Tir Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran S. Bijari 7900319475328460023482 7900319475328460023482 No Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran S. Sayfollahi 7900319475328460023483 7900319475328460023483 No Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Z. Momeni 7900319475328460023484 7900319475328460023484 No Medical Physics Department, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran