Comparison of radiation and chemoradiation-induced sensorineural hearing loss in head and neck cancer patients

J Cancer Res Ther. 2020 Apr-Jun;16(3):539-545. doi: 10.4103/jcrt.JCRT_891_16.

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess and compare the incidence and severity of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in head-and-neck patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT) and concurrent cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Materials and methods: Pure tone audiometry (PTA) was performed at 0.25-12 kHz on 35 RT and 25 CRT patients after 12-month followed up. The hearing loss was evaluated according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) criteria.

Results: SNHL increased to 84% in patients who had received CRT, compared with 26% increasing in patients who had treated with RT. There was an increased risk of SNHL at all frequencies for ears received a cochlear mean dose >50 Gy in RT group, compared to those receiving cochlear mean dose >30 Gy in CRT group. SNHL was more severe at higher frequencies in both patient groups.

Conclusion: Characteristic of radiation-induced SNHL is different from CRT-induced SNHL, especially in threshold radiation dose and PTA frequency.

Keywords: Concurrent chemotherapy; head; neck; pure tone audiometry; radiotherapy; sensorineural hearing loss.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Audiometry, Pure-Tone / methods
  • Chemoradiotherapy / adverse effects*
  • Child
  • Cisplatin / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / therapy
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / chemically induced
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / diagnosis*
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Radiotherapy Dosage
  • Radiotherapy, Conformal / adverse effects*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cisplatin