Taste dysfunction in head and neck cancer survivors

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Sensory Science
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Head and neck cancer treatments can significantly impact survivors' quality of life.
• Taste function is crucial for nutritional intake and overall well-being.
• The long-term prevalence and characteristics of taste dysfunction in survivors are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of taste function issues in head and neck cancer survivors.
• To describe the nature of taste dysfunction experienced by survivors.
• To explore the relationship between taste dysfunction and other factors like weight change and treatment history.

Main Methods:

• An exploratory, cross-sectional study was conducted.
• 92 adult head and neck cancer survivors were recruited from an outpatient cancer center.
• Taste discrimination was assessed using various concentrations of sweet, salty, sour, and bitter solutions.

Main Results:

• 85% of participants exhibited measurable taste dysfunction.
• Common issues included confusion between bitter and sour tastes and difficulty discriminating concentrations of sweet solutions.
• Significant weight loss was statistically associated with dysgeusia (altered taste).

Conclusions:

• Taste dysfunction is a persistent, long-term side effect across diverse head and neck cancer treatments, sites, and stages.
• Survivors' self-reported taste loss did not always align with objective testing, indicating potential confusion with flavor recognition.
• Dysgeusia is a distressing complication associated with decreased appetite, highlighting the need for nursing assessment and future interventions.