ESTRO 36 Abstract Book

S317 ESTRO 36 _______________________________________________________________________________________________

scores for QOL and symptoms were linearly converted to a 0-100 scale. Propensity Score (PS) correction and weighting was used to reduce the risk of bias and balance patient and treatment characteristics between the treatment groups (Table). Linear regression analyses were performed with IMRT as independent variable and the patient rated outcome scores as dependent variables. All models were corrected for PS and corresponding scores at baseline. Results With IMRT, the mean PS-weighted QOL scores at 6 months were 9.7 points higher than they were with 3D-CRT (79.5 vs. 69.8, p=0.011) and at 12 months they were 9.1 points higher (83.1 vs. 74.1, p=0.014). This indicates a significant improvement with IMRT. The lower mean PS-weighted scores for xerostomia (6 months: 34.5 vs. 51.7, p=0.007, and 12 months: 33.3 vs. 52.0, p=0.006) and sticky saliva (6 months: 27.4 vs. 39.6, p=0.003, and 12 months: 19.8 vs. 33.6, p=0.026) also indicate a significant improvement with IMRT (lower symptom scores correspond with less complaints). The mean PS-weighted scores for swallowing problems were similar for IMRT and 3D-CRT (6 months: 19.5 vs. 22.1, p=0.532, and 12 months: 16.0 vs. 20.6, p=0.252).

Conclusion This study shows that IMRT significantly reduced patient- reported xerostomia and sticky saliva which translated in significantly improved patient rated QOL compared to 3D- CRT. With IMRT, no significant reduction of swallowing problems was observed. PO-0608 Depression, anxiety and claustrophobia in patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancer M.E. Pelland 1 , L. Lambert 1 , E. Filion 1 , H. Bahig 1 , M.P. Beaudry 1 , A. Ouellette 1 , P. Bahary 1 , P. Nguyen-Tan 1 1 Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Radio- oncology departement, Montréal, Canada Purpose or Objective To assess the prevalence of emotional distress, anxiety, depression and claustrophobia in patients undergoing radiation for head and neck cancer (HNC). Material and Methods This prospective study included patients oriented for treatment for HNC within 6 weeks preceding radiotherapy. Self-reported distress was assed using the NCCN Distress Thermometer , anxiety and depression were assed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale ; and claustrophobia was assessed using the Claustrophobia Questionnaire . All questionnaires have been validated and present good psychometric properties. Group differences in outcomes were analysed using both student t-tests and general linear models. Results 1346 patients were accrued from May 2009 to April 2016. Median age of patients was 63 years old (18-94). Men represented 74% of patients. Nasal cavity represented 6%; oral cavity represented 11%; oropharynx 49%; hypopharynx 4%; larynx 25% and unknown primary 5%. Of these patients, 46% presented emotional distress, 26% presented anxiety and 9% presented with depression. Moreover, of these patients, 52% presented sub-clinical claustrophobia and 27% presented moderate to severe claustrophobia. Both emotional distress (p< 0.001) and depression (p < 0.001) were affected by gender, with women scoring significantly higher than men. In regards to anxiety: women were more anxious than men (p< 0.001); patients with oral cavity tumors were more anxious than other tumoral sites (p<0.01) and patients with concurrent chemotherapy were more anxious than those with adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation alone (p< 0.05). Claustrophobia, in turn, was influenced by gender and marginally impacted by tumor localization, whereas women were more claustrophobic