Neurocognitive Function in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Prior to Radiation Therapy

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to explore neurocognitive function in HNC survivors prior to initiation of radiotherapy, and to compare differences in baseline neurocognition between survivors and matched controls. METHODS: This cross-sectional, exploratory study included patients diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, or larynx/hypopharynx between January 2019 and August 2022 who underwent radiotherapy. Noncancer controls were recruited through a research registry and matched on age, sex, and years of education. Neuropsychological testing was completed before radiotherapy initiation. RESULTS: Controlling for covariates, 40 patients and matched controls performed similarly on baseline measures of attention, memory, executive function, perceived cognitive function, mental flexibility, psychomotor efficiency, and visuo-spatial ability (p ≥ 0.05). CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences in neurocognitive function between patients with HNC and noncancer controls prior to radiotherapy. Further work is needed to explore the long-term impact of radiotherapy on neurocognition.