Temporomandibular disorder in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy: Clinical findings and patient‐reported symptoms
Nina Pauli MD, PhD  Christina Mejersjö LDS, PhD  Bodil Fagerberg‐Mohlin DDS  Caterina Finizia MD
First published: 16 July 2019 https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.25878
Funding information: Cancerfonden; Göteborgs Läkaresällskap; Stiftelsen Assar Gabrielssons Fond
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Abstract
Background
The aim of this study was to investigate how common temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms are among head and neck cancer (HNC) patients before and after oncological treatment.

Methods
Eighty‐nine patients with HNC receiving radiotherapy were enrolled in the study. Patients were examined before radiotherapy and at 6 and 12 months after radiotherapy to evaluate the function and tenderness of the temporomandibular jaw and the muscles of mastication as well as the patient‐reported symptoms.

Results
At 6 months after radiotherapy, there was a large increase in the number of patients reporting problems with opening their mouth, fatigue, stiffness, and pain of the jaw. Sixty‐eight percent of the patients had symptoms of TMD before oncological treatment and 94% and 81% had symptoms at the 6‐ and 12‐month follow‐up, respectively.

Conclusion
The signs and symptoms of TMD escalate after radiotherapy, with symptoms peaking at 6 months after radiotherapy. Most commonly, patients suffer from restricted mouth opening, stiffness, fatigue, and pain of the jaw.