Abstract

MAGALHAES, Filipa et al. Effects on Hearing in Patients with Neoplasm of Head and Nek and Brain Tumours undergoing Radiotherapy and Combined Therapy. Arq Med [online]. 2012, vol.26, n.4, pp.141-144. ISSN 2183-2447.

Introduction: the hearing ability of patients with neoplasm of head and neck and brain tumours can be compromised with antineoplasic treatment carried out. Chemotherapy with cisplatin can cause hearing loss, sensorineural or transmission and may become worst when combined with Radiotherapy (RT). The objective of this work was the analysis of the relationship between Combined therapy (Cisplatin + RT) and radiotherapy isolated, and its adverse effects on hearing taking into account the inclusion of the structures of the ear in the treatment field of RT. Methods: 10 patients undergoing Combination Therapy (CT) and 11 isolated Radiotherapy (RT group) were followed. The audiological testing was held before the beginning (M1), end (M2) and a month after (M3) the end of the treatments and included audiological anamnesis, otoscopy and audiometry. Results: in the TC group, 94.4% of patients showed a directly proportional relation between the dose of radiation in the cochlea and hearing loss. This relation was only found in 31% of the RT group patients. Statistical analysis also revealed significant differences between groups (p< 0.001). Conclusions: there was a greater incidence of hearing loss in the TC group, comparably to the RT group. We suggest a better planning for RT treatments, reducing the dose to the cochlea in order to minimize the irreversible sensorineural hearing loss, especially when both treatment modalities are used.

Keywords : hearing loss; hearing monitoring; neoplasm; radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

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