Prevalence of pharyngeal and esophageal stenosis following radiation for head and neck cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the risk and outcome of pharyngoesophageal stenosis in patients who complained of dysphagia following radiation for head and neck cancer.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
Veterans Administration hospital.


METHODS
Patients who complained of persistent dysphagia following radiation alone or combined with surgery or chemotherapy for head and neck cancer. Patients were selected if they were cancer free at the time of the swallowing study. All patients had modified barium swallow (MBS) and an endoscopic examination for initial evaluation of their dysphagia. Traditional barium swallow was requested when there was a suspicion of pharyngoesophageal stenosis on MBS.


RESULTS
Two hundred twenty-two patients underwent MBS for evaluation of dysphagia posttreatment. Traditional barium swallow confirmed the diagnosis of pharyngeal (n = 2) or esophageal (n = 14) stenosis in 16 patients. Eight patients had esophageal stenosis on endoscopic examination. All patients underwent dilatation for relief of their dysphagia. The number of dilatations performed was, respectively, one in 12 patients, two in 4 patients, three in 3 patients, four in 3 patients, five in one patient, and six in one patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Pharyngeal and/or cervical esophageal stenosis may be the cause of dysphagia following radiation for head and neck cancer. Esophageal dilatations often offer temporary relief of the dysphagia.
Nguyen
Nam P
NP
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724-5081, USA. NamPhong.Nguyen@yahoo.com
Smith
Herbert J
HJ
Moltz
Candace C
CC
Frank
Cheryl
C
Millar
Carrie
C
Dutta
Suresh
S
Lee
Howard
H
North
Debra
D
Karlsson
Ulf
U
Vos
Paul
P
Nguyen
Ly M
LM
Sallah
Sabah
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D003287:Contrast Media; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D004106:Dilatation; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004947:Esophagus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010039:Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D010614:Pharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States
D003287:Contrast Media; D001466:Barium Sulfate