Feeding tube use in patients with head and neck cancer.
BACKGROUND
Use of a prophylactic feeding tube before concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy (CRT) for patients with head and neck cancer is often debated.


METHODS
A retrospective, exploratory study of 109 veterans with stage III/IV head and neck cancer who completed standard CRT was conducted. Relationships among 3 feeding tube status groups: prophylactic feeding tube (PFT), reactive feeding tube (RFT), and no feeding tube (no-FT) were compared for clinical outcomes.


RESULTS
Patients with a PFT had significantly less weight loss during CRT, fewer nutrition-related emergency department visits or hospitalizations, and higher proportions of chemotherapy cycles completed compared to those with an RFT or no-FT. At 12 months post-CRT, there was no relationship between the use of a PFT and 100% feeding tube dependency.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of a PFT in this veteran population with stage III/IV head and neck cancer produced better outcomes when compared to both an RFT or no feeding tube without higher rates of long-term dysphagia.
James A. Haley Veteran's Affairs Hospital, Tampa, Florida; University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey.
Sherri L
SL
Lewis
Rebecca
R
Brody
Riva
R
Touger-Decker
James S
JS
Parrott
Joel
J
Epstein
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014728:Veterans; D015431:Weight Loss
chemotherapy; enteral feeding; gastrostomy; head and neck neoplasms; radiotherapy