Journal
HEAD AND NECK-JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES AND SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK
Volume 26, Issue 4, Pages 365-372Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1002/hed.10385
Keywords
dysphagia; organ preservation; head and neck cancer; videofluorographic swallowing assessment
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Background. Swallowing dysfunction is a common side effect of chemoradation. Methods. Twelve patients with stage III or IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were enrolled. Videofluorographic swallowing studies were performed before initiation of chemoradiation to provide baseline swallowing function data. Postchemoradiation videofluorographic swallowing studies were performed from 1 to 14 weeks after the completion of treatment (mean, 8 weeks). Results. Changes in swallowing physiology after treatment included decreased base of tongue to posterior pharyngeal wall contact (p =.0010) and reduced pharyngeal contraction (p =.0313), resulting in impaired bolus transport through the pharynx. In addition, decreased laryngeal elevation (p=.0039), decreased laryngeal vestibule closure (p =.0078), and laryngeal penetration (p =.0078) were present. Bolus volume did not have a significant effect on swallowing ability. Aspiration was observed in four patients. Conclusions. Organ preservation treatment impairs movement of structures essential for normal swallowing. Prophylactic swallowing exercises may benefit these patients. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available