Quality-of-life scores compared to objective measures of swallowing after oropharyngeal chemoradiation.
OBJECTIVE
To compare objective measures of swallowing function with patient reports of swallowing-related quality of life 1 year after treatment of oropharyngeal cancer with chemoradiation therapy.


METHODS
Patients seen for follow-up at least 1 year after treatment of oropharyngeal carcinoma with chemoradiation therapy were sequentially approached and asked to participate in the study.


METHODS
Maximum pharyngeal constriction, hyoid elevation, upper esophageal sphincter opening size, and bolus pharyngeal transit time were measured from modified barium swallowing studies in a group of 31 patients at least 1 year after chemoradiation therapy for the treatment of oropharyngeal carcinoma. Measures were made for a liquid 1-mL, 3-mL, and 20-mL bolus. Objective measure results were compared to scores from the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory and The University of Washington Swallowing Quality of Life Questionnaire results from the same patients.


RESULTS
No strong correlation was identified between any of the objective measures of swallowing physiology and quality-of-life scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Patient perception of the impact of swallowing function on quality of life does not correlate well with actual physiologic functioning.
Division of Otolaryngology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Katherine A
KA
Kendall
Steven R
SR
Kosek
Kristine
K
Tanner
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012647:Self-Assessment; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory; Oropharyngeal carcinoma; University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire; chemoradiation; deglutition; dysphagia; quality of life