A recent review investigated the psychological impact of sinonasal, nasopharyngeal, and laryngeal cancer diagnoses, particularly considering a possible occupational link. Researchers aimed to identify tools used to assess quality of life (QoL), anxiety, and depression in these patients.

Out of over 5,900 initial records, only six studies met the strict criteria. These studies typically used questionnaires like EORTC QLQ-C30 and HADS to measure psychological well-being. Findings indicated that QoL scores were often similar to the general population at diagnosis and remained stable or slightly improved after a year. However, a higher prevalence of anxiety and depression was observed compared to the general population, though results were inconsistent due to the limited number of studies.

Surprisingly, no study explored the association between potential occupational etiology and patients' QoL or distress. The review concludes that it's vital to consider patients' employment history when evaluating their psychological distress, especially if they believe their illness is occupationally related. This information could support the development of evidence-based psychological interventions.

The study is freely available: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1355186