Analysis of factors influencing Dysphagia severity following treatment of head and neck cancer.
The aim was to assess the influence of treatment, tumor stages and sites on the severity of dysphagia following treatment. Sequential modified barium swallow (MBS) examinations were performed in patients who complained of chronic dysphagia following treatment of their head and neck cancer. Patients were selected if they were cancer free at their last MBS and had 2 or more MBS studies. Dysphagia severity was graded on a scale of 1 to 7. Dysphagia grade was compared between the first and last MBS to assess its evolution. Between 1996 and 2005, 63 patients with chronic dysphagia underwent MBS to assess dysphagia severity for nutritional support. Twenty-one patients (33%) had improvement of their dysphagia. Two of these patients (3%) achieved normalization of the swallowing. Twenty-five patients (40%) had no change of the dysphagia severity. Dysphagia grade increased in 17 patients (27%). Analysis of patient characteristics did not show any significant difference between these three groups of patients. MBS is a useful tool to monitor dysphagia severity and to identify aspiration risk. Stages of disease and treatment modality do not seem to impact on the course of dysphagia.
Nguyen
Nam P
NP
Radiation Oncology Department, University of Arizona, 1501 N. Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85724-5081, USA. NamPhong.Nguyen@yahoo.com
Frank
Cheryl
C
Moltz
Candace C
CC
Karlsson
Ulf
U
Nguyen
Phuc D
PD
Ward
Harold Wc
HW
Vos
Paul
P
Smith
Herbert J
HJ
Huang
Shawn
S
Nguyen
Ly M
LM
Lemanski
Claire
C
Ludin
Adir
A
Sallah
Sabah
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003679:Deglutition; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001466:Barium Sulfate