PD758 - BEYOND ORAL TOXICITY: NUTRITIONAL CONSEQUENCES OF SEVERE RADIOMUCOSITIS DURING HEAD AND NECK RADIOTHERAPY

PD758

BEYOND ORAL TOXICITY: NUTRITIONAL CONSEQUENCES OF SEVERE RADIOMUCOSITIS DURING HEAD AND NECK RADIOTHERAPY

Z. Skalli^1,*, S. Harbaj², I. Skitioui¹, K. Nouni³, A. Lachgar¹, H. ElKacemi¹, T. Kebdani¹, K. Hassouni¹

¹National Oncology Institute of Rabat, ²national institute of oncologie rabat, ³national institute of oncology rabat, Rabat, Morocco

Rationale: Radiomucositis; as one of the most frequent acute toxicities for head and neck cancers; may contribute to feeding difficulties, weight loss, and increased supportive care needs and compromise nutritional status.

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of radiomucositis and its association with nutrition-related burden during radiotherapy.

Methods: Descriptive study of 286 patients treated for head and neck cancer. Severe radiomucositis was defined as grade II–III mucositis.  Associations between severe radiomucositis and nutrition-related outcomes (feeding difficulty, anorexia, dysphagia, and weight loss) were analyzed using chi-square tests.

Results: The cohort had a mean age of 58.0 ± 16.3 years (range: 18–93) with a male-to-female ratio of 1.7. The most common tumor site was the nasopharynx (49%), followed by the larynx (21%), oral cavity (18%).

Radiomucositis was reported in 43% of patients, including grade I in 27%, grade II in 58%, and grade III in 16% of affected cases.

Patients with severe radiomucositis were significantly more likely to report feeding difficulties than those without severe radiomucositis (35.6% vs 19.4%, p=0.035) and were also more likely to experience weight loss (33.3% vs 16.3%, p=0.022). No significant associations were observed with anorexia or dysphagia.

Conclusion: Severe radiomucositis is associated with acute nutritional vulnerability during head and neck radiotherapy, particularly feeding difficulty and weight loss, highlighting the importance of early supportive care and nutritional monitoring to mitigate treatment-related burden.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared