Ototoxicity and Its Early Diagnosis in Patients Receiving Cancer Chemotherapy - A Prospective Clinical Study

Abstract

Structured Abstract

Introduction: Antineoplastic drugs play an important role in the treatment of cancer at different levels & are the most cited ototoxic agents. The main objective of the study is early detection of ototoxicity in individuals receiving chemotherapy as an attempt to reduce the challenge in diagnosis and management of ototoxicity.

Materials & Methods: A prospective study was conducted in tertiary care center in the Departments of Otorhinolaryngology & Oncology from October 2019 to September 2021 among 140 cancer patients. Baseline audiological evaluation was done using DPOAE and Pure Tone Audiometry at baseline ,followed by within 24 hours, at the end of third & the sixth month.

Results : 81.4% study subjects received combination chemotherapy, among that 21% received a combination of a Taxane and a Platinum derivative & the rest received single drug regimen. Ototoxic effects were assessed in terms of tinnitus ,vertigo & hearing loss. There was a significant hearing loss of 15 dB from baseline in high frequencies were observed in patients receiving taxanes ,platinum compounds or both.

Conclusion:The study findings has led to the conclusion that ototoxic effects were more pronounced among the study subjects who had recieved Taxanes ,Platinum compounds or both (Taxanes & Platinum ). Hence it is recommended that audiological assessment at base line and at all stages of the therapy should be established as a protocol to be followed in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy.

Keywords :Audiometry, Pure-Tone , DPOAE-gram, Ototoxicity