Short‐term and long‐term quality of life after neck dissection

Abstract

Our results suggest that patients should receive preoperative counseling regarding the morbidities from ND and the possible short-term and long-term impact on QOL. Further studies evaluating the relationship between primary tumor characteristics and quality of life after ND need to be undertaken.

Function, postoperative morbidity, and quality of life after cervical sentinel node biopsy and after selective neck dissection

“…40 In our study, SNB is associated with less cervical skin numbness (p < .0001) and less disturbances in protopathic sensitivity (p < .0001) compared with SND. However, these parameters apparently do not have a measurable influence on QOL.…”

Shoulder and neck morbidity in quality of life after surgery for head and neck cancer

“…In published reports of patients after head and neck surgery, several postoperative factors have been described that interfere with postoperative quality of life: depression, 12 physical function, fatigue, 9 shoulder discomfort, neck tightness, 10 speech, and eating. 11 Most findings are similar to the findings in our study, although we did not include fatigue, speech, and eating in our regression analyses.…”

“…In this phase, patients have to learn to cope with the consequences of the cancer treatment. 8 Some authors have described the following as consequences that have a significant influence on aspects of long-term quality of life: physical function, fatigue, 9 shoulder discomfort, neck tightness, 10 speech, eating, 11 and depression. 12 However, in none of these studies were the findings of a physical examination together with the findings of the assessment of emotional factors used to analyze long-term quality of life after head and neck surgery.…”

Physical activity and quality of life in head and neck cancer survivors

“…Although the reasons for reduced QoL (physical, emotional, social, and cognitive function) are multiple and often complex [3], a major factor relates to residual functional deficits (e.g., eating, speech, shoulder dysfunction) [11,28]. Even with improved functional status over time, QoL often remains less than optimal in other domains, such as marital relationships and sexual function [13].…”