title: Dysphagia in Tongue Cancer Patients Before and After Surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To define factors influencing postoperative aspiration in tongue cancer patients and to analyze the characteristics of dysphagia before and after surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 112 tongue cancer patients participated in this work. Videofluoroscopic swallowing studies were performed in all patients before and after surgery. A Penetration-Aspiration Scale score of 3 or greater was defined as an aspiration risk. Qualitative data were collected on a frame-by-frame basis from each videofluoroscopic swallowing study and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Smoking (58.14%, P < .01), tongue resection greater than 50% (38.71%, P < .05), and advanced tumor stage (49.18%, P < .01) were strong risk factors for aspiration. High incidences of inadequate tongue movement, delayed oral transit time, reduced hyoid bone elevation, poor aspiration or penetration, vallecula epiglottica, and residual material in the pyriform sinuses were evident after surgery (all P < .001). The Penetration-Aspiration Scale score was significantly higher after surgery than before surgery. The incidence of silent aspiration increased to 6.25% postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smoking, larger tongue resection, and advanced tumor stage were strong risk factors for postoperative aspiration and dysphagia complications in tongue cancer patients. The aspiration rate was higher after surgery. Further studies should focus on the prevention and early treatment of dysphagia, especially postoperative aspiration, in tongue cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Attending, Department of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhuo-Shan
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Professor and Director, Department of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: drchen@vip.163.com.
authors.forename: Wei-Liang
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Quan
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhao-Hui
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D005927:Glossectomy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D053120:Respiratory Aspiration / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014741:Video Recording