Pilot Study of Quality-of-Life Differences Between Surgical and Non-Surgical Organ Preservation Strategies in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Introduction Head and neck cancer (HNC) treatments can significantly affect long-term quality of life, with different treatment modalities impacting other aspects of patient well-being. Our study aimed to evaluate quality of life (QoL), functional outcomes, and symptom impact in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients and to compare outcomes between patients who underwent definitive surgical treatment and those treated with non-surgical organ preservation therapy. Materials and methods A pilot cohort study was performed between September 2024 and September 2025 in Hippocrateion General Hospital, Athens, Greece, including 25 HNC patients diagnosed and treated with curative intent. Participants completed the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Quality of Life Questionnaire-Head and Neck 35 (QLQ-H&N35) (Greek versions) at least three months after their treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, and p-values