Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to characterize patterns in ototoxicity monitoring and identify potential barriers to audiologic follow-up. Methods: We performed a single-institution retrospective cohort study on adult (≥ 18 years old) cancer patients treated with cisplatin from January 2014 to September 2021. Our primary outcomes were rates of baseline and post-treatment audiograms at the following time points: 3, 6, 12, and greater than 12 months. Time-to-event analyses were performed to describe additional insights to ototoxicity monitoring patterns. Results: Nine hundred fifty-five patients with cancer were included for analysis. The most common primary cancer sites were head and neck (64%), followed by cervical (24%). Three hundred seventy-three patients (39%) underwent baseline audiometric assessment, 38 patients (4%) received audiologic evaluation during chemotherapy, and 346 patients (36%) obtained at least one post-treatment audiogram. Audiologic follow-up was greatest within 3 months of completing chemotherapy (26%), but this tapered dramatically to less than 10% at every other post-treatment time point. Patients with head and neck cancer achieved higher rates of audiologic follow-up at every time point than patients with non–head and neck cancer except for during treatment. Conclusions: Ototoxicity monitoring is an inconsistent practice, particularly during chemotherapy and for long-term surveillance of hearing loss. Patients with non–head and neck cancer may be at increased risk for loss of audiologic follow-up. Implications for Cancer Survivors: Cisplatin ototoxicity is a common occurrence that can be effectively managed with auditory rehabilitation. Therefore, referrals to audiology and counseling on treatment-related ototoxicity are recommended throughout chemotherapy and cancer survivorship.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Cancer Survivorship
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2024

Keywords

  • Cancer
  • Cisplatin
  • Head and neck cancer
  • Ototoxicity
  • Ototoxicity monitoring

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