title: A 2-year follow-up of swallowing function after radiation therapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate over a 2-year period the serial swallowing function of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after completing radiotherapy (RT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective longitudinal follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with NPC (N=76) referred for RT: 53 of them at 1 year after RT, and 23 at 2 years after RT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed a questionnaire and had a video-recorded fluoroscopic swallowing study before RT and 1 month, 1 year, and 2 years after RT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The highest incidence of dysphagia symptoms and retropharyngeal soft tissue swelling occurred in the first month after RT and decreased over time. Pharyngeal transit time was prolonged continuously up to 1 year after RT. Epiglottic vallecular stasis and pharyngeal mucosal coating were worst in the first month after RT and stable afterwards. Aspiration was uncommon during the first 2 years after RT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At a 2-year follow-up after RT, patients with NPC had a progressively increasing pharyngeal transit time, although the subjectively identified symptoms of dysphagia decreased after the first month after RT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yeun-Chung
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ssu-Yuan
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lai-Lei
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Ting
authors.forename: Steven Sin-Fong
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Teh-Chen
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tyng-Guey
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003679:Deglutition / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*