Severity and duration of chronic dysphagia following treatment for head and neck cancer.
The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate chronic dysphagia (lasting 3 or more months) following treatment for head and neck cancer. Since dysphagia is a common sequela post therapy in cancer survivors, it may be helpful for the clinician to be aware of the persistence of dysphagia as well as its usual severity. Modified Barium Swallow (MBS) examinations were performed in cancer-free patients who complained of dysphagia following treatment for head and neck cancer. The severity of the dysphagia was graded on a scale of 1 to 7. Each patient had sequential MBS and underwent swallowing therapy in between. The severity of dysphagia was compared between the first and last MBS study to determine whether the swallowing function had returned to normal.


RESULTS
Between 1996 and 2004, 12 patients with dysphagia underwent repeated MBS following treatment. Swallowing function did not return to normal in all patients. At a median time of 29 months following treatment (range 8 to 94 months), the severity of dysphagia decreased in 8 patients (67%), remained unchanged in 3 patients (25%) and worsened in 1 patient (8%). Chronic dysphagia following treatment is unlikely to resolve with time despite rehabilitation therapy. Excessive scarring following treatment may be responsible for the persistence and severity of dysphagia. Physicians should be aware of the long-term effects of dysphagia on patient nutrition and psychological well-being.
Nguyen
Nam P
NP
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75216, USA. NamPhong.Nguyen@med.va.gov
Moltz
Candace C
CC
Frank
Cheryl
C
Karlsson
Ulf
U
Smith
Herbert J
HJ
Nguyen
Phuc D
PD
Vos
Paul
P
Nguyen
Ly M
LM
Rose
Sue
S
Dutta
Suresh
S
Sallah
Sabah
S
D000368:Aged; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003287:Contrast Media; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D003287:Contrast Media; D001466:Barium Sulfate