114 Discussion This 2-year prospective study showed that the prevalence of masticatory dysfunction among patients with HNC was estimated at 29% before treatment, 38% at 3 months after treatment, 28% at 6 months, 26% at 12 months, and 36% at 24 months. The mean MAT values indicate a decrease in masticatory function 3 and 6 months after treatment, and a return to baseline values 1 and 2 years after treatment. Masticatory function was associated with age, tumor stage, tumor site, timing of assessment, and the interaction between tumor site and timing of assessment. The masticatory performance decreased with age. Furthermore, a higher tumor stage was associated with a worse masticatory performance. Patients with oral cavity tumors performed worse in comparison to those with oropharynx and hypopharynx and larynx tumors. Masticatory function worsened in patients with an oral cavity tumor from diagnosis up to 6 months after treatment, and returned to baseline levels 1 and 2 years after treatment. Patients with an oropharynx, hypopharynx or larynx tumor did not show this decrease in function after treatment. Comparison with literature The association between age and worse masticatory function is found in previous research as well.18,19 It was suggested that this association is caused by different mechanisms: fewer contacts between functional units (for example caused by a lower number of teeth), the presence of xerostomia, and/or decreased oral muscle activities.20 When patients lose their teeth, it is advised to install a suitable dental prosthesis, and to train and exercise the masticatory muscles in order to increase oral motor and sensory functions that are used in mastication.21 In future research, it is therefore important to measure the number of teeth and number of occlusal units and include these as factors in the LMM. Previous research on masticatory function as measured with the MAT focused on patients that received surgery for oral cancer, in which measurements were performed before surgery, 4-6 weeks after surgery, 6 months after surgery, and 1 and 5 years after surgery. Masticatory function worsened from baseline to 1 year after treatment, and recovered 5 years after treatment. These changes over time are in line with the results found in this study for patients with oral cancer. Other research in patients with oral cancer found that surgery and surgery followed by RT had a significant impact on oral function, and the recovery was less prominent in patients that received surgery followed by RT in comparison to patients that received surgery only. This was caused by the fact that patients treated with surgery and RT had larger tumors, more extended resections, and received RT which
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