title: Results of fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing vs. radiation dose in the swallowing muscles after radiotherapy of cancer in the oropharynx.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dysphagia is a serious complaint but frequently underreported. This paper assesses for oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) the relationship between the dose received by the swallowing structures, and the findings of a fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of the swallowing process (FEES).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2000 and 2005, 60 of 67 OPC patients local-regionally NED for at least one year following treatment responded to three types of QoL questionnaires; i.e. Performance Status Scales, EORTC H&N35, and M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory. Twenty-four patients agreed to the FEES procedure. The main swallowing muscles were delineated, with the mean dose per muscle calculated using the original 3D CT-based treatment plans. Regression analysis was performed between FEES variables and the doses in the different swallowing muscles and the dysphagia related questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant relationship was found between the results of FEES and the mean dose in the superior constrictor muscle (SCM). Some of the subjective dysphagia complaints were significantly correlated with the FEES variables in this retrospectively study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A higher dose in the SCM generally results in worsening of the findings obtained by the FEES examination.
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: David N
authors: DN
authors: Teguh
authors: Peter C
authors: PC
authors: Levendag
authors: Aniel
authors: A
authors: Sewnaik
authors: Marieke M
authors: MM
authors: Hakkesteegt
authors: Inge
authors: I
authors: Noever
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Voet
authors: Henrie
authors: H
authors: van der Est
authors: Dick
authors: D
authors: Sipkema
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: van Rooij
authors: Robert Jan
authors: RJ
authors: Baatenburg de Jong
authors: Paul I M
authors: PI
authors: Schmitz
mesh_terms: D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires