Facial pain, health-related quality of life and trismus-related symptoms up to 5 years post-radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

Purpose: Pain is a frequent symptom of head and neck cancer (HNC) but longitudinal studies investigating facial pain are scarce. We aimed to investigate prevalence of facial pain, its effect on health-related quality of life (HRQL) and trismus-related symptoms in a HNC cohort.

Methods: Patients (n = 194) were prospectively followed post completion of radiotherapy (RT). Outcome measures included facial pain, HRQL, trismus-specific symptoms, and maximal interincisal opening (MIO).

Results: Facial pain was reported by 50% at baseline. Corresponding figures for 3-, 12-, and 60 months post-RT were 70%, 54% and 41%. Moderate to severe pain was reported in 29-44% of patients reporting pain during the study period. Patients reporting pain scored significantly worse on more HRQL variables and trismus symptoms, as well as had significantly smaller MIO at all follow-up time points.

Conclusions: Facial pain was common in HNC patients pre- and post-RT and remained prevalent up to 5 years after completion of RT. Reductions in MIO were associated with more facial pain. Pain was also associated with worse HRQL.