Post irradiation hearing loss in head/neck patients in Lagos; Nigeria

ABSTRACT

A prospective study was conducted at Lagos University Teaching Hospital on patients with malignancies of the head and neck region treated with external beam irradiation type and severity of hearing loss. Each patient had a preirradiation and post irradiation pure tone audiogram at 3 weeks; 8 weeks and 6 months. Following completion of radiotherapy serial post irradiation audiogram threshold was compared with pre-treatment threshold. An increase of 10 dB HL (decibel hearing level) or greater was considered significant. Radiation dose ranged from 45-55Gy in twenty to twenty-five fractions per weeks over four to five weeks treatment. Patients that received chemotherapy as adjunctive to therapy during the period of the study were excluded. A total of 40 patients (80 ears) completed the audiological follow up out of ninety four patients seen during the study period .Age ranged between 4-79 years. The tumor site distribution showed 20