Swallowing outcomes after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer: a systematic review.
BACKGROUND
A systematic review of the current data on swallowing function after radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy is presented.


METHODS
Electronic databases were searched for 1966-2005. Papers were categorized according to level of evidence, methodological quality, and the specific domain of swallowing being measured.


RESULTS
Of 109 papers retrieved, 33 were identified and reviewed. Evidence was primarily classified as either level III.2 (cohort studies) or level IV (case series). Methodological quality was found to be compromised in most studies. Although many researchers had investigated swallowing impairment, a wide variety of measurement tools were employed.


CONCLUSIONS
There are limited data on swallowing outcomes after radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Further work is needed to ascertain which aspects of swallowing should be measured, and then to use such measures in well-designed clinical trials and prospective cohort studies of this under-researched population.
Frowen
Jacqui J
JJ
School of Human Communication Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3083, Victoria, Australia. j.frowen@latrobe.edu.au
Perry
Alison R
AR
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003679:Deglutition; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome