Aspiration risk and postoperative radiation for head and neck cancer.
The aim of the study was to assess the aspiration risk following postoperative radiation for head and neck cancer. Thirty-seven patients had Modified Barium Swallow before and following treatment. Dysphagia severity was graded from 1 to 7. Before treatment there were sixteen grade 1, seventeen grade 2, three grade 3 and one grade 5. Following postoperative radiation, two patients had grade 1, eleven patients had grade 2, thirteen patients had grade 3, four patients had grade 4, four patients had grade 5, one patients had grade 6, and two patients had grade 7. Nineteen percent (7/37) of the patients developed aspiration (grade 5-7). Aspiration is life-threatening and may develop for all tumor sites and stages.
Nguyen
Nam P
NP
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85724-5081, USA.
Frank
Cheryl
C
Moltz
Candace C
CC
Millar
Carrie
C
Smith
Herbert J
HJ
Dutta
Suresh
S
Alfieri
Alan
A
Lee
Howard
H
Vos
Paul
P
Karlsson
Ulf
U
Nguyen
Ly M
LM
Sallah
Sabah
S
D000368:Aged; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D053120:Respiratory Aspiration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors