Effects of radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy on tongue strength and swallowing in patients with oral cancer.
BACKGROUND
Oral tongue strength and swallowing ability are reduced in patients treated with chemoradiotherapy for oral and oropharyngeal cancer.


METHODS
Patients with oral or oropharyngeal cancer treated with high-dose chemoradiotherapy underwent tongue strength, swallowing, and dietary assessments at pretreatment and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months posttreatment. Tongue strength was assessed using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI). Oral and pharyngeal residue was evaluated utilizing videofluoroscopy.


RESULTS
Mean maximum tongue strength dropped a nonsignificant amount immediately after treatment, and then increased significantly at 6- and 12-months posttreatment completion. Analyses were adjusted for patient dropout. Tongue strength was not significantly correlated with swallow observations of percentage oral and pharyngeal residue. Ability to eat various diet consistencies was reduced after treatment but improved over time at a rate similar to changes in oral intake and type of diet.


CONCLUSIONS
Parallel but not significant changes in oral intake, diet, and tongue strength in the first year post chemoradiation therapy need further study in a larger population.
Lazarus
Cathy
C
Voice, Speech and Language Service and Swallowing Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Logemann
Jeri A
JA
Pauloski
Barbara Roa
BR
Rademaker
Alfred W
AW
Helenowski
Irene B
IB
Vonesh
Edward F
EF
Maccracken
Ellen
E
Mittal
Bharat B
BB
Vokes
Everett E
EE
Haraf
Daniel J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003679:Deglutition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014059:Tongue / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014741:Video Recording
D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel