Effect of hydration schedules on dose-limiting toxicity in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with cisplatin.

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine if head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients treated with cisplatin chemoradiotherapy and short hydration (SH) experience less dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) and receive more cisplatin than those with medium hydration (MH) or long hydration (LH).

Methods: Baseline characteristics, cumulative cisplatin dose and toxicities were collected. Differences between LH, MH and SH were tested, with separate analyses for triweekly 100 mg/m cisplatin and weekly 40 mg/m cisplatin.