Swallow function and perception of dysphagia in patients with head and neck cancer.
BACKGROUND
The relationship between subjective complaints of dysphagia and objective measures of swallow function in patients with cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx, treated with radiotherapy +/- chemotherapy has not been well documented in the literature.


METHODS
Swallowing function in 132 patients with various lesions was evaluated using videofluoroscopy and analyzed by patient complaint of dysphagia grouping.


RESULTS
Patients with complaints of dysphagia demonstrated significantly worse swallow function as indicated by lower oropharyngeal swallow efficiency (OPSE), longer transit times, larger residues, and more swallows with aspiration. Patients with complaints of dysphagia also tended to take less of their nutrition by mouth and less variety of food consistencies in their diet compared with those without complaint.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients were able to perceive decrements in their swallowing function as dysphagia and may have limited their oral intake in response to that perception. The ability to accurately perceive swallowing function may be useful for self-monitoring changes in dysphagia status during a course of swallow therapy.
Pauloski
Barbara Roa
BR
Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, 2299 N. Campus Drive, Evanston, Illinois 60208-3540, USA. pauloski@merle.it.northwestern.edu
Rademaker
Alfred W
AW
Logemann
Jerilyn A
JA
Lazarus
Cathy L
CL
Newman
Lisa
L
Hamner
Annette
A
MacCracken
Ellen
E
Gaziano
Joy
J
Stachowiak
Linda
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology