Factors Influencing the Severity of Acute Radiation-Induced Skin and Mucosal Toxicity in Head and Neck Cancer

Background and purpose Radiotherapy is a crucial part of cancer therapy armamentarium, but it is associated with skin and mucosal toxicity in a substantial proportion of patients with head and neck cancer. Its extent, however, depends on several patient-related and treatment-related factors. In-depth knowledge of these is prudent for better patient management. Aim The aim of this study is to assess the factors influencing the severity of acute radiation-induced skin and mucosal toxicity in patients with head and neck cancer receiving external beam radiotherapy. Materials and methods This longitudinal observational study included all patients receiving curative external beam radiotherapy for head and neck cancer aged 18 years or above from January 2018 to December 2018. Patient-related and treatment-related characteristics including age, gender, type, staging and site of cancer, history of smoking and diabetes, surface area exposed, and concurrent chemotherapy were compared in patients experiencing severe and non-severe acute skin and mucosal toxicity using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) scoring system. Results Higher age (p = 0.002), TNM stage IV (p = 0.023), and concurrent administration of chemotherapy (p = 0.002) were statistically associated with severe acute radiation-induced skin and mucosa toxicity, whereas gender, surface area irradiated, history of smoking, and diabetes did not show such an association. Conclusion Older patients with TNM stage IV malignancy receiving concurrent chemotherapy are at a high risk of developing skin and mucosal toxicity that might interfere with the treatment protocol and warrant hospitalization, compromising their quality of life.