Acquisition of optical and olfactory sensory impressions directly during radiation therapy with protons or photons

• Conditions: C00-C14; C15-C26; C30-C39; C40-C41; C43-C44; C45-C49; C50; C51-C58; C60-C63; C64-C68

• Registration Number: DRKS00021817
• Lead Sponsor: niversitätsklinikum und Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus der Technischen Universität Dresden, Klinik und Poliklinik für Strahlentherapie und Radioonkologie

Brief Summary

There were 37% of the patients experiencing phantosmias, 51% experiencing phosphenes, and 29% simultaneously experiencing both sensations. Phosphenes were typically perceived as a ?ashily blue, white and/or purple light, phantosmias were typically perceived as a chemical-like, metallic or burnt smell. Younger age (F= 7.81, p< 0.01), radiation in the brain region (?2 = 14.05, p= 0.02), absence of taste problems (?2 = 10.28, p= 0.01), and proton RT (?2 = 10.57, p= 0.01) were related to these abnormal sensations. History of chemical/dust exposure predicted lower intensity (B= –1.52, p= 0.02) and lower unpleasantness (B= 0.49, p= 0.03) of phantosmia. In contrast, disease (tumor) duration (B= 0.11, p< 0.01), food allergy (B= 2.77, p< 0.01), and epilepsy (B= –1.50, p= 0.02) in?uence phosphenes intensity. Analgesics intake predicted a higher pleasantness of the phosphenes (B= 0.47, p< 0.01).

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2020-06-16
• Study Completion: 2023-03-31
• Results First Posted: 2023-06-04
• Last Update Posted: 19 August 2024

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Complete
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 106

Inclusion Criteria

Age >18 years
- planned proton or photon therapy with a local ablative radiation dose
- oral and written consent
- adequate general condition

Exclusion Criteria

- poor German language skills
- palliative treatment concept
- Participation in an intervention study whose procedures conflict with the present study

Study & Design

• Study Type: observational
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Incidence of visual and olfactory perception during radiation

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Comparison of patient cohorts regarding cofactors, radiation therapy, dose volume histogram-analysis