title: A descriptive review of the factors contributing to nutritional compromise in patients with head and neck cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malnutrition has been known to be associated with adverse outcomes in cancer patients. Patients who have been and/or are being treated for head and neck cancer have a compromised nutritional status. Nutritional deficits have a significant impact on mortality, morbidity, and quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The wasting in cancer cachexia involves loss of muscle and fat and reflects a catabolic metabolism induced by an abnormal host response to tumor presence and/or tumor factors. Disturbances of various physiological functions like taste, smell, dysphagia, xerostomia apart from cachexia can contribute to long-term nutritional complications and outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improved management of patients in posttreatment for head and neck cancer may require a multimodal approach by a multidisciplinary team and is best commenced earlier in the trajectory of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Gerald Bronfman Center for Clinical Research in Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H2W 1S6, Canada. martin.chasen@mcgill.ca
authors.forename: Martin R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Chasen
authors.forename: Ravi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhargava
mesh_terms: D002100:Cachexia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D011788:Quality of Life