title: Increased Pharyngeal Reflux in Patients Treated for Laryngeal Cancer: A Pilot Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Laryngopharyngeal reflux may cause significant morbidity in the head and neck cancer population. The goal was to determine if pharyngeal reflux is increased as a result of treatment for laryngeal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Head and neck cancer patients treated at LSU Health-Shreveport with a plan for total laryngectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pharyngeal pH probes with resultant reflux scores were utilized in patients with laryngeal/pharyngeal cancer with a plan for total laryngectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-four patients were enrolled, of whom 10 underwent postlaryngectomy pH probe monitoring. The mean upright Ryan score for patients with prior radiotherapy was 238.4 (n = 8), compared with 22.0 (n = 16) in those without prior radiotherapy (P = .02). The supine score was 12.7 in the radiotherapy group and 2.7 in those without radiotherapy (P = .12). For those who completed the postlaryngectomy pH study (n = 10), the mean preoperative upright Ryan score was 106.32 ± 279.1 versus a postoperative score of 209.0 ± 352.6 (P = .04). The mean supine preoperative Ryan score in this group was 3.9 ± 3.47, as opposed to 8.1 ± 9.6 postoperatively (P = .13) CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that treatment of laryngeal cancer may increase the incidence of pharyngeal reflux. Consider screening for reflux in patients previously treated for laryngeal cancer.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, LSU Health-Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.
authors: Blake
authors: B
authors: LeBlanc
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, LSU Health-Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.
authors: Ellen
authors: E
authors: Lewis
authors: Department of Biometry, LSU Health-Shreveport, and Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.
authors: Gloria
authors: G
authors: Caldito
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, LSU Health-Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA cnatha@lsuhsc.edu.
authors: Cherie-Ann O
authors: CA
authors: Nathan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D015994:Incidence; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D007825:Laryngectomy; D057045:Laryngopharyngeal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: laryngopharyngeal reflux; total laryngectomy