Evaluation of the prevalence and severity of xerophthalmia in head and neck cancers patients undergoing curative radiotherapy

  • Sowmya V Dept of Ophthalmology, Fr Muller Medical College
  • Dipika Jayachander Department of Radiation Oncology,Father Muller Medical College, Kankanady, Mangalore, Karnataka, India 575002
  • Vijna Kamath Department of Optholmology,Father Muller Medical College, Kankanady, Mangalore, Karnataka, India 575002
  • Mithun SK Rao IInd year Undergraduate student, Father Muller Medical College, Kankanady, Mangalore, Karnataka, India 575002
  • Mohammed Raees Tonse Dept of Radiation Oncology,Father Muller Medical College,Kankanady, Mangalore,Karnataka, India - 575002
  • Manjeshwar Shrinath Baliga Research Centre,Father Muller Medical College, Kankanady, Mangalore, Karnataka, India 575002
DOI: https://doi.org/10.35119/asjoo.v14i4.149
Keywords: xerophthalmia, dry eye syndrome, dry eye syndrome,, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, ionizing radiation, Head and neck cancer

Abstract

 

Background: The study objective was to assess the development of xerophthalmia [dry eye syndrome (DES) or keratoconjunctivitis sicca] in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.
Methods: Twenty two head and neck cancer patients requiring more than 60 Gy of curative radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy and ten patients requiring radiotherapy/ chemoradiotherapy for treating cancers in the non head and neck regions (like breast, oesophagus, prostate, cervix and rectal cancers) were also enrolled in the study. The development of DES was studied at the beginning (day 0, before the start of radiotherapy) at day 21 (after completion of 30 Gy) and on completion of the treatment (> 60 Gy). As a comparative cohort, people with non head and neck cancer needing curative radiotherapy were also evaluated for comparison.
Results: There was no difference in degree of DES between the Head and Neck cancer cohorts and non head and neck group at the beginning of treatment. However there was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) between the two groups at both mid and end of RT time point. Inter comparison between the various time points in the head and neck cancer group showed that the incidence of DES increased with the radiation exposure and was significant (pre to mid p < 0.001; and mid to end p < 0.005). A negative (r = -0.262) correlation was seen between DES and distance.
Conclusions: The study showed that lesser the distance from the epicenter of the radiation to the orbital rim more was the severity of DES.

Published
2016-01-20
How to Cite
V, S., Jayachander, D., Kamath, V., Rao, M., Tonse, M., & Baliga, M. (2016). Evaluation of the prevalence and severity of xerophthalmia in head and neck cancers patients undergoing curative radiotherapy. Asian Journal of Ophthalmology, 14(4). https://doi.org/10.35119/asjoo.v14i4.149
Issue
Vol 14 No 4 (2016)
Section
Original Articles

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