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Updated: Jan 9, 2026
Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
Prevention of hypoacusis after radiochemotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Romina Mastronicola1, Maëlys Bresson2, Elise Kayser2
1CRAN, CNRS, UMR 7039, Université de Lorraine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France; Department of Surgical Oncology, Head and Neck Unit, Institut de Cancérologie de Lorraine, Université de Lorraine, F-54519, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
Objective:
Treatment of head and neck cancers is based on many schemes, and in the case of radiochemotherapy, the main side effect impacting a patient's quality of life is hypoacusis. Its prevention and analysis are consequently essential.
Methods:
A total of 118 patients who underwent chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy received follow-up care with audiometric tests. Corticosteroid therapy began during the treatment.
Results:
At the end of the radiochemotherapy cycles and after corticosteroid therapy, 58 % of patients recovered 40 dB on average, and 42 % achieved total resolution of hypoacusis.
Conclusion:
Prevention of the side effects of anticancer therapies is a major issue, and our study revealed the potential ability of corticosteroids to act as otoprotective drugs.
