Dysgeusia After Comprehensive Treatment for Oral Cavity Cancer

Gustatory function is a crucial component of human physiology, yet it is usually overlooked by the physician. We aimed to determine risk factors for dysgeusia in oral cavity cancer patients after comprehensive treatment.

We prospectively enrolled oral cavity cancer patients scheduled to undergo surgical intervention from August 2017 until December 2023. A solution-based taste test was used to examine patients' taste sensation before and 6 months after comprehensive treatment. Demographic data, along with treatment-related features, were collected and analyzed.

In total, 104 patients with oral cavity cancer were included in the final analysis. The average age was 55.0 ± 9.0 years and males accounted for 83.7% (n = 87) of all participants. In addition, 21 patients (20.2%) received total glossectomy and 46 patients (44.2%) underwent partial glossectomy. Furthermore, 65 patients (62.5%) received postoperative radiotherapy and 53 patients (51.0%) had induction or postoperative chemotherapy. After adjusting for other variables, radiotherapy was shown to be a risk factor for dysgeusia after comprehensive treatment (relative risk [RR], 13.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.57-122.85), followed by total glossectomy (RR, 6.20; 95% CI, 1.49-25.75). Chemotherapy had a marginal effect on dysgeusia in oral cavity cancer patients after comprehensive treatment (RR, 3.40; 95% CI, 0.95-12.14).

Taste disorders are not life-threatening events, but they still deserve the physician's attention. Patients with oral cavity cancer should be made aware that their sensation of taste may be affected during and after comprehensive treatment.