title: Functional outcomes after chemoradiotherapy of laryngeal and pharyngeal cancers.
abstract: Organ preservation regimens that combine chemotherapy and radiotherapy (chemoradiotherapy) are increasingly used as the primary treatment of laryngeal and pharyngeal cancers. Meta-analytic data show a survival benefit with combined modality therapy, but the functional sequelae can be significant. Dysphagia is recognized as a common and often devastating late effect of chemoradiotherapy. This review examines functional outcomes after chemoradiotherapy for laryngeal and pharyngeal cancers, with a particular emphasis on dysphagia. Topics examined include the burden of dysphagia after chemoradiation, pathophysiology of dysphagia, baseline functioning, recommendations to improve long-term function, and voice outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. karnold@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hutcheson
authors.forename: Jan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lewin
mesh_terms: D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology