Long-term quality of life and its predictive factors after oncologic surgery and microvascular reconstruction in patients with oral or oropharyngeal cancer.

The aims of this study were to evaluate long-term quality of life (QoL) and to determine its predictive factors after oncologic surgery and free flap reconstruction in patients with oral or oropharyngeal cancer. Patients treated at our institution between 2000 and 2009, who are alive and disease-free at least 1 year after therapy, completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 questionnaire and the specific H&N35 module. Eighty patients were included in our study. Global QoL score was 69.3 ± 22.7 %. Global QoL and general symptoms were correlated with T stage, whereas head and neck symptoms were correlated with T stage and tumor involvement of the tongue base. Emotional and social functioning scales, and resumption of professional activity were significantly associated with global QoL. In conclusion, T stage, tumor involvement of the tongue base, professional status and emotional and social functions were the main determinants of QoL in our study.