Oral somatosensory alterations and salivary dysfunction in head and neck cancer patients.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) are at high risk of malnutrition due to eating difficulties partly mediated by sensory alterations and salivary dysfunction. Clinical studies have mostly focused on taste and smell alterations, while changes in oral somatosensory perception are largely understudied. The study aimed to investigate oral somatosensory (tactile, texture, chemesthetic, and thermal) responses and salivary functions of HNC patients in comparison to healthy controls.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted using psychophysical tests in HNC patients (n = 30) and in age- and gender-matched control subjects (n = 30). The tests included measurements of point-pressure tactile sensitivity, whole-mouth chemesthetic stimulation, food texture discriminat

SUBMITTER: Riantiningtyas RR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10570204 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature