Left-Right Differences in Oral Function and Quality of Life of Patients Who Underwent Tongue Resection

Background The tongue plays an important role in oral functions, including articulation, eating, and swallowing. The treatment of tongue cancer (TC) often leads to oral morbidities, such as limited mouth opening, dry mouth, swallowing difficulties, and mucositis. The anterior-posterior resection area of the tongue has a significant impact on oral function and quality of life (QOL). However, the specific left-right differences in oral function of patients who underwent tongue resection remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of left-right differences on oral function and QOL in patients with TC who underwent tongue resection. Methodology This study included 40 patients with TC who underwent surgical resection smaller than hemiglossectomy and were divided into left (LG) and right (RG) tongue groups. The oral, respiratory, and feeding functions and the QOL at baseline (before treatment) and one, three, and six months after treatment (1M, 3M, and 6M, respectively) were evaluated. Maximum tongue pressure and lip-closure force were used to evaluate the oral functions. Peak expiratory flow was used to evaluate the respiratory function. The Functional Oral Intake Scale was used to evaluate the feeding functions. The QOL was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QOL Questionnaires: QLQ-C30, QLQ-H&N35. Results The results indicated that there were no significant differences in oral, respiratory, or feeding function between the LG and RG groups at all evaluation periods. However, regarding QOL assessments, at 3M, LG indicated a significantly higher score than RG for swallowing (LG = 3.17, RG = 10.00, p = 0.037) and trouble with social eating (LG = 12.30, RG = 20.56, p = 0.025) in the EORTC QLQ-H&N35. At 6M, the LG also indicated a significantly higher QOL than RG for global health status (LG = 81.14, RG = 65.69, p = 0.018) and physical function (LG = 96.51, RG = 89.80, p = 0.047) in the EORTC QLQ-C30. Conclusions While the left-right differences in tongue function did not lead to functional impairment post-surgery, they significantly affected the QOL. The results indicate the importance of considering these differences in postoperative care to effectively address the QOL concerns.