title: Prevalence of pharyngeal and esophageal stenosis following radiation for head and neck cancer.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724-5081, USA. NamPhong.Nguyen@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Nam P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Herbert J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Candace C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Moltz
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Millar
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dutta
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: North
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vos
authors.forename: Ly M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Sabah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sallah
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D001466:Barium Sulfate