Health-related quality of life outcome evaluation for intensity-modulated radiotherapy versus helical tomotherapy using EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-HN35 core questionnaires for nasopharyngeal carcinomas

This study compared the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated by step-and-shoot intensity-modulated radiotherapy (SaS-IMRT) versus helical tomotherapy (HT). Data from one-forty-two NPC patients consecutively treated at the same institute between March 2006 and December 2009 were collected and analysed. They received either SaS-IMRT (case number = 62) or HT (case number = 80) for their nasopharyngeal tumours and neck lymphatics. Health-related Quality of life was assessed by the European organization for research and treatment of cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 and the EORTC QLQ-HN and a marginal significance of fewer sensation changes in the HT group. Multivariate analysis further disclosed that patients with HT had significantly fewer complaints of swallowing, senses, and feeling ill.  Compared with SaS-IMRT, HT may provide a significantly better HRQoL in the aspects of swallowing, senses, and feeling ill. This could be explained by the further reduction of treatment-related toxicity via well-designed HT.   Key words: Health-related quality of life, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, intensity-modulated radiotherapy, helical tomotherapy, EORTC.