Speech and swallowing impairment after treatment for oral and oropharyngeal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of speech and swallowing impairment after radical surgery for oral and oropharyngeal cancer from the patient's viewpoint and to examine the association of these functional alterations with selected clinical characteristics regarding patients, tumors, and oncologic treatment.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, multicenter study using a self-administered questionnaire.


METHODS
Forty-three hospitals in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.


METHODS
A total of 3894 questionnaires about rehabilitation problems after treatment for oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were sent to patients. Of these, 1652 were filled out and returned, and 1334 (80.8%) met the inclusion criteria.


METHODS
Morbidity associated with treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancer.


RESULTS
Speech problems were reported by 851 patients (63.8%), and swallowing problems were reported by 1006 patients (75.4%). The variables that presented a significant association with speech and swallowing impairment were sex, tumor location, pTNM stages, stage of tumor, treatment modality, and reconstruction type.


CONCLUSIONS
This survey, based on patient perception, suggests that those who undergo radiotherapy associated with the surgical removal of a tumor, have late-stage tumors (III-IV), or have tumors located in the floor of the mouth should be informed of the greater risk of persistent severe speech and swallowing problems.
Suarez-Cunqueiro
Maria-Mercedes
MM
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hannover Medical School, D-30625 Hannover, Germany.
Schramm
Alexander
A
Schoen
Ralf
R
Seoane-Lestón
Juan
J
Otero-Cepeda
Xosé-Luis
XL
Bormann
Kai-Hendrik
KH
Kokemueller
Horst
H
Metzger
Marc
M
Diz-Dios
Pedro
P
Gellrich
Nils-Claudius
NC
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015995:Prevalence; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires