title: A videofluoroscopic study comparing severe swallowing disorders in patients treated surgically or with radiation for oropharyngeal cancer.
abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze the causal mechanisms of severe swallowing disorders after the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer. Twenty-six patients with severe swallowing disorders at ≥12 months after treatment for oropharyngeal cancer were analyzed retrospectively using videofluoroscopy. Fourteen patients (54%) had been treated with surgery (±postoperative radiotherapy), while 12 patients (46%) had been treated with (chemo)radiotherapy. Videofluoroscopy analysis showed a localized alteration in the surgical excision area resulting in impaired tongue root retraction in the surgical group (P=0.012), while general impairment of the pharyngeal, laryngeal, and upper oesophagus sphincter was found in the non-surgical group. Aspirations in the surgical group most often occurred after swallowing, while in the non-surgical group, they occurred during and after swallowing (P=0.039). This analysis by videofluoroscopy provides important insights into the mechanisms giving rise to swallowing disorders after the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL et Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire La Timone, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL et Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire La Timone, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Robert
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL et Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire La Timone, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lagier
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL et Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire La Timone, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giovanni
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL et Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire La Timone, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dessi
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL et Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire La Timone, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France. Electronic address: nicolas.fakhry@ap-hm.fr.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fakhry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014741:Video Recording
keywords: deglutition; deglutition disorders; head and neck cancer; oropharynx; quality of life