Table 2.

EORTC QOL-HN 35 scores were evaluated preoperatively (t1 in case group and t1’ in control group) and post-operatively (1-year follow up, t2 in case group and t2’ in control group). Mean (standard deviation), Median (interquartile range) and p values (Mann-Whitney U test) of the change in EORTC QOL-HN 35 scores over time between t1 and t2, and between t1’ and t2’

Changes in EORTC QOL-HN 35 score	EORTC QOL-HN 35 scores								p-value
	Case, n = 8				Control, n = 14
	t1 (Mean)	t2 (Mean)	t2 − t1 (Mean)	t2 − t1 (Median)	t1’ (Mean)	t2’ (Mean)	t2’ − t1’ (Mean)	t2’ − t1’ (Median)
Pain	31.250	34.375	3.125 ± 5.786	0 (0–6.250)	33.750	32.857	−0.893 ± 3.144a	0 (−6.250–0)	0.1251
Swallowing	25.0	28.125	3.125 ± 3.341	3.125 (0–6.250)	31.25	60.714	29.464 ± 14.998	25.0 (18.750–43.750)	0.0001
Sense	25.0	28.125	3.125 ± 5.786	0 (0–6.250)	25.0	35.714	10.714 ± 22.391	0 (0–12.50)	0.7409
Speech	25.0	29.167	4.167 ± 4.454	4.167 (0–8.333)	26.189	52.379	26.190 ± 24.646	25.0 (8.333–4.167)	0.0119
Social eating	28.125	43.750	15.625 ± 13.774	9.375 (6.25–25.0)	30.357	60.714	30.357 ± 14.052	25.0 (18.750–50.0)	0.0197
Social contact	25.0	43.750	18.75 ± 4.432	17.50 (15.0–22.5)	25.0	52.571	27.571 ± 9.982	25.0 (20.0–35.0)	0.039
Sexuality	25.0	31.250	6.250 ± 11.573	0 (0–12.5)	25.0	35.714	10.714 ± 18.898	0 (0–25.0)	0.7409
Teeth	31.250	37.50	6.250 ± 11.573	0 (0–12.5)	39.286	46.429	7.143 ± 11.720	0 (0–25.0)	0.8678
Open mouth	37.50	37.50	0	0	39.286	50.0	10.714 ± 18.898	0 (0–25.0)	0.1370
Dry mouth	31.250	43.750	12.50 ± 13.363	12.50 (0–25.0)	28.571	57.142	28.571 ± 9.078	25.0 (25.0–25.0)	0.0082
Sticky saliva	25.0	25.750	0.750 ± 0.886	0.50 (0–1.50)	25.0	39.286	14.286 ± 12.839	25.0 (0–25.0)	0.1503
Cough	25.0	25.0	0	0	25.0	28.571	3.571 ± 9.078	0	0.3603
Questionnaire 31–35 summed up	50.0	52.5	2.50 ± 3.273	1.25 (0–5.0)	51.429	51.429	0	0	0.1094

p-value by Mann–Whitney’s U-test

^a A negative value indicates pain relief