Pretreatment swallowing function in patients with head and neck cancer. Head Neck 2000 Aug;22(5):474-82
Date
07/18/2000Pubmed ID
10897107DOI
10.1002/1097-0347(200008)22:5<474::aid-hed6>3.0.co;2-iScopus ID
2-s2.0-0033927971 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 138 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: Few objective data characterizing the pretreatment swallow function of patients with head and neck cancer are available.
METHODS: Pretreatment swallowing function in 352 patients with various lesions was evaluated with videofluoroscopy and compared with control subjects.
RESULTS: Patients had significantly longer oral and pharyngeal transit times, greater amounts of oral and pharyngeal residue, shorter cricopharyngeal opening durations, and lower swallow efficiencies. Swallow function worsened significantly with increased tumor stage, and patients with oral or pharyngeal lesions had worse swallow function than patients with laryngeal lesions. Frequency of complaint of swallow difficulty before treatment was 59%. Patients with lower stage tumors had fewer complaints of swallowing, as did patients with oral cavity lesions.
CONCLUSIONS: Despite demonstrating significant differences from control subjects, patients had highly functional swallows before treatment. The tendency for patients not to perceive a swallowing problem is consistent with the highly functional nature of their pretreatment swallow.
Author List
Pauloski BR, Rademaker AW, Logemann JA, Stein D, Beery Q, Newman L, Hanchett C, Tusant S, MacCracken EAuthor
Barbara R. Pauloski PhD, CCC-SLP Associate Professor in the Communication Sciences & Disorders department at University of Wisconsin - MilwaukeeMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultAged
Aged, 80 and over
Chi-Square Distribution
Deglutition
Deglutition Disorders
Female
Fluoroscopy
Head and Neck Neoplasms
Humans
Laryngeal Neoplasms
Male
Middle Aged
Mouth
Mouth Neoplasms
Neoplasm Staging
Pharyngeal Muscles
Pharyngeal Neoplasms
Pharynx
Time Factors
Videotape Recording
