Parotid gland sparing IMRT for head and neck cancer improves xerostomia related quality of life

Radiation Oncology

Table 3 questions related to xerostomia during meals

	Group	Never %	Sometimes %	Frequent %	Always %	UV p value	MV p value
Do you have a problem with the transport of solid food through your mouth?	IMRT	32	39	18	11	< 0.001	< 0.001
	Control	12	27	41	21
Do you have a problem with the transport of grounded food through your mouth?	IMRT	67	19	11	3	< 0.001	0.001
	Control	40	27	24	10
Do you have a problem with swallowing solid food?	IMRT	32	38	20	10	< 0.001	< 0.001
	Control	15	24	33	28
Do you have a problem swallowing grounded food?	IMRT	62	19	16	3	0.007	0.02
	Control	42	23	27	9
Do you experience a dry mouth during meals?	IMRT	39	35	20	5	< 0.001	< 0.001
	Control	14	31	36	19
Do you need to have a drink of water to swallow your food?	IMRT	23	39	19	19	< 0.001	< 0.001
	Control	6	24	31	40
Do you find it difficult to eat in front of others?	IMRT	57	24	11	8	0.006	0.02
	Control	35	31	19	15
		Solid %	Grounded %	Liquid %
What type of diet do you have?	IMRT	91.	6	3		0.03	0.3
	Control	79	12	10
		Yes	No
Do you have to swallow more frequently then you used to?	IMRT	66	34			0.2	0.2
	Control	78	21

Questions and answers related xerostomia esperienced during meals for IMRT group (n = 75) and control group (n = 87).
UV: univariate tested (linear by linear association), MV: multivariate tested (ordinal regression, IMRT tested together with N stage, T stage, prior chemotherapy, prior surgery, interval between RT and questionnaire, current smoker yes/no)

ISSN: 1748-717X