title: Dysphagia after radiotherapy: state of the art and prevention.
abstract: Adjuvant radiotherapy after surgery or exclusive radiotherapy, with or without concurrent chemotherapy is a valuable treatment option in the great majority of patients with head and neck cancer. Recent technical progress in radiotherapy has resulted in a decreased incidence of xerostomia. Another common toxicity of radiotherapy is dysphagia, which alters the nutritional status and quality of life of patients in remission. The objective of this review is to describe the physiology of swallowing function, the pathophysiology of radiation-induced dysphagia and the various strategies currently available to prevent this complication.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Oncologie Radiothérapie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, boulevard Fleming, 25000 Besançon cedex, France. Electronic address: stephanie.servagi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Servagi-Vernat
authors.affiliation: Université Paris Descartes, Paris Sorbonne Cité, Service d'Oncologie Radiothérapie, Hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, 20, rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Service ORL, unité voix, Hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, 20, rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roubieu
authors.affiliation: Université Paris Descartes, Paris Sorbonne Cité, Service d'Oncologie Radiothérapie, Hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, 20, rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Durdux
authors.affiliation: Université Paris Descartes, Paris Sorbonne Cité, Service d'ORL, Hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, 20, rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Laccourreye
authors.affiliation: Université Paris Descartes, Paris Sorbonne Cité, Service d'Oncologie Radiothérapie, Hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, 20, rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giraud
mesh_terms: D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects
keywords: Dysphagia; Radiotherapy; Toxicities