Objective assessment of trismus in oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) Journal Article


Authors: Owosho, A. A.; Pedreira Ramalho, L. M.; Rosenberg, H. I.; Yom, S. K.; Drill, E.; Riedel, E.; Tsai, C. J.; Lee, N. Y.; Huryn, J. M.; Estilo, C. L.
Article Title: Objective assessment of trismus in oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
Abstract: Purpose The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of trismus in oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients (OOPC) treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and to identify the role of risk factors in patients who developed trismus. Materials and methods A retrospective cohort study of OOPC treated with IMRT in our institution from 2009 to 2014 was performed. Patients eligible for this study had pre-RT and post-RT maximal inter-incisal opening (MIO) measurements at 6–48 months post-RT, treated with high-dose radiation (≥60 Gy) and pre-RT MIO ≥36 mm. A descriptive analysis to identify the incidence of trismus, with trismus stated as MIO ≤35 mm at or after 6 months post-RT measurement was performed. The role of risk factors such as age, gender, tumor site, tumor size (T), tumor stage, pre-RT MIO measurements and radiation dose to the tumor were assessed using Fisher exact test and the radiation doses to the ipsilateral muscles of mastication in patients who developed trismus were assessed by matching with control (non-trismus) patients using Wilcoxon Signed Rank test. Results The study consisted of 54 patients with a median age of 55 years and 81% were males. The median follow-up time was 10 months. The prevalence of trismus was 14.8%. Patients with pre-RT MIO measurements ≤40 mm were at risk of developing trismus (P < 0.001). In trismus patients, the average mean radiation dose to the masseter and medial pterygoid muscles was numerically higher but not significantly different (P = 0.08; P = 0.22, respectively) to matched control patients. Age, gender, radiation dose to the tumor, tumor site, size (T) and stage were also found to be not significant. Conclusion Pre-RT MIO measurement was a significant risk factor for the development of trismus. However, this is a non-modifiable factor. Limiting radiation dose to the muscles of mastication could prevent this complication. © 2016 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery
Keywords: trismus; intensity-modulated radiation therapy; oral cancer; oropharyngeal cancer
Journal Title: Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery
Volume: 44
Issue: 9
ISSN: 1010-5182
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.  
Date Published: 2016-09-01
Start Page: 1408
End Page: 1413
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcms.2016.06.008
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 27377999
PMCID: PMC5279066
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 3 January 2017 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Joseph M Huryn
    108 Huryn
  2. Cherry Estilo
    93 Estilo
  3. Nancy Y. Lee
    870 Lee
  4. SaeHee Kim Yom
    42 Yom
  5. Esther Naomi Drill
    93 Drill
  6. Chiaojung Jillian   Tsai
    238 Tsai
  7. Adepitan Adedamola Owosho
    29 Owosho