头颈部放射治疗对味觉的损害

Taste disorder in patients after irradiation of head and neck

放射线治疗是恶性肿瘤的常用治疗手段之一。头颈部放射治疗常引起局部疼痛、口干、味觉障碍等一系列并发症,可不同程度地影响到病人的生活质量以及对治疗的耐受性。近年来,对头颈部放射治疗并发症的研究已引起临床重视。灵敏的味觉是维持良好生活质量的重要条件之一。味觉障碍既是一种客观症状,也是一种主观感受,它不仅直接抑制病人的食欲,导致营养缺失,更可加重其身心负担。本文对头颈部放疗引起味觉损害的相关研究作一综述,侧重介绍味觉损害的发生机制、临床表现、治疗及预防等方面的新进展。

Irradiation is commonly used as a radiotherapy for malignant neoplasms. In patients receiving irradiation of the head and neck, pain, xerostomia, taste disorder and so on were often present as local complications. These complications can, more or less, deteriorate the quality of life (QOL) and depress the treatment tolerance of the patients. Recently, clinical study of the complications of the head and neck irradiation has drawn more attention than before. It has been well known that acuity of the taste is necessary for maintaining good QOL. Taste disorder appears not only as an objective symptom but also as a subjective impact. It can decrease the food intake, aggravate weight loss, and induce some psychological problems. This paper tries to review the progress of the research on the head and neck irradiation-induced taste disorder and introduce new opinions on its mechanism, clinical symptoms, treatment and prevention.