Relationship between swallow motility disorders on videofluorography and oral intake in patients treated for head and neck cancer with radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy.
BACKGROUND
Current research demonstrates that swallow function is impaired after treatment with organ-sparing chemoradiotherapy. Few studies, however, have related observed swallowing disorders with the patient's oral intake and diet in a large cohort of patients.


METHODS
Swallowing function was examined using the modified barium swallow (MBS) procedure in 170 patients treated with radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy for cancer of the head and neck at 5 evaluation points: pretreatment and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months posttreatment. Fisher's exact test was used to examine the relationship between swallow motility disorders and oral intake or diet consistencies.


RESULTS
Limitations in oral intake and diet during the first year after cancer treatment were significantly related to reduced laryngeal elevation, reduced cricopharyngeal opening, and rating of nonfunctional swallow on at least 1 swallow of any bolus type.


CONCLUSIONS
Swallow motility disorders had a significant impact on the eating ability of patients after treatment for head and neck cancer with radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy.
Pauloski
Barbara Roa
BR
Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, 2240 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208-3540, USA. pauloski@northwestern.edu
Rademaker
Alfred W
AW
Logemann
Jerilyn A
JA
Newman
Lisa
L
MacCracken
Ellen
E
Gaziano
Joy
J
Stachowiak
Linda
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D014741:Video Recording
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents