Facial appearance after operations for oral and oropharyngeal cancer: A comparison of casenotes and patient-completed questionnaire
Abstract
Disfigurement after operations for oral and oropharyngeal cancer is an important issue. Our aim was to review the casenotes of patients who reported distress in the appearance domain of the University of Washington Quality of Life Scale (UWQOL) and to find out what help they were given. Of 278 patients with previously untreated oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated between 1995 and 1999, 114 (41%) were concerned about their appearance. Factors that correlated with these concerns included tumours more than 2cm in size, T2 or worse stage, free tissue reconstruction, segmental mandibular resection, and neck dissection. In only 7 of the 114 was there any mention of the patient's appearance in the clinic notes, of whom 4 were given help (2 scar revisions and 2 oral rehabilitations). This study suggests that patients' concerns about disfigurement are poorly recognised in routine clinical practice and supports the principle of using the UWQOL scale to discuss problems of appearance with patients.
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The cited authors concluded that body image issues are either not recorded or not properly addressed for many patients, since only seven charts directly mentioned the concern.
“This concern was only directly mentioned in seven patient charts leading the authors to conclude that body image issues are either not being recorded or properly addressed for many patients.”
From Multidimensional analysis of body image concerns among newly diagnosed patients with oral cavity cancer (2010) · cites this paper as [14]
In a recent study, 41% (N=114) of surgical patients with oral or oropharyngeal cancer reported appearance distress on a quality-of-life scale in their medical record.
“In a recent study, 41% (N = 114) of surgical patients with oral or oropharyngeal cancer reported distress about appearance on a quality of life scale included in their medical record.(14)”
From Multidimensional analysis of body image concerns among newly diagnosed patients with oral cavity cancer (2010) · cites this paper as [14]
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Body image in patients with head and neck cancer: A review of the literature
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- Authors
- Millsopp, L., Brandom, L., Humphris, G., Lowe, D., Stat, C., & Rogers, S.
- Affiliations
- University of St Andrews (GB)
- Aintree University Hospital (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Millsopp, Lynne
- Venue
- British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2006-10
- Volume
- 44
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 358-363
- ISSN
- 0266-4356 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1998303439
- Cited by
- 79
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 2.77
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Edge Hill University Research Information Repository (Edge Hill University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- University of Washington
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Otorhinolaryngology › Head and Neck Cancer Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Reconstructive Facial Surgery Techniques
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Keywords
- facial disfigurement, oral cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, appearance concerns, patient-reported quality of life, segmental mandibulectomy, neck dissection, scar revision, oral rehabilitation, tumor size, tumor stage
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Aged, Body Image, Carcinoma, Squamous Cell, Face, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Mouth Neoplasms, Oropharyngeal Neoplasms, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Social Adjustment, Chi-Square Distribution, Patient Satisfaction, Plastic Surgery Procedures
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