Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 10, 2025

Single-Port Robotic-assisted Transaxillary Breast-conserving Surgery: A Prospective, Single-arm, Non-randomized Phase IIa Clinical Trial
Published on: August 19, 2025
Body image distress in head and neck cancer patients: what are we looking at?
H C Melissant1,2,3, F Jansen4,5,6, S E Eerenstein1
1Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Cancer Center Amsterdam, P.O. Box 7057, 1007, Amsterdam, MB, Netherlands.
Purpose:
The aim of the present study is to investigate the prevalence of body image distress among head and neck cancer (HNC) patients after treatment and to examine its association with sociodemographic and clinical factors, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), HNC symptoms, sexuality, self-compassion, and psychological distress. Second, we aim to explore daily life experiences of HNC patients regarding body image.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey among HNC patients investigated the prevalence of body image distress based on the Body Image Scale. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was applied to study associations with sociodemographic and clinical factors, HRQOL (EORTC QLQ-C30), HNC symptoms (QLQ-HN43), sexuality (FSFI-6; IIEF-5), self-compassion (SCS-SF), and psychological distress (HADS). Qualitative data from a body image writing intervention was used to explore experiences in daily life related to body image.
Results:
Body image distress was prevalent in 13-20% (depending on cut-off scores) of 233 HNC patients. Symptoms of depression (p < 0.001), younger age (p < 0.001), problems with social contact (p = 0.001), problems with wound healing (p = 0.013), and larger extent of surgery (p = 0.014) were associated with having body image distress. This model explained 67% of variance. Writing interventions of 40 HNC patients showed that negative body image experiences were related to appearance and function, with social functioning problems described most often.
Conclusion:
Prevalence of body image distress in HNC patients, using different cut-off scores, is 13-20%. Younger patients, patients after extensive surgery, and patients who had wound healing problems are most at risk. There is a significant association between body image distress and depressive symptoms and social functioning.
Related Concept Videos
Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Bulimia Nervosa
Veins of Head and Neck
On the other hand, the vertebral veins, unlike their arterial counterparts, are not primarily responsible for brain drainage. Instead, they drain the cervical vertebrae, spinal cord, and some small...
Assessment of Airway, Skin Color, and Use of Accessory Muscles
Introduction
The initial evaluation of a patient's respiratory system...
Arteries of the Head and Neck
The internal carotid arteries supply blood to the anterior portion of the cerebrum. They enter the...