The impact of time after radiation treatment on dysphagia in patients with head and neck cancer enrolled in a swallowing therapy program. Head Neck 2019 Mar;41(3):606-614
Date
01/11/2019Pubmed ID
30629306Pubmed Central ID
PMC6382558DOI
10.1002/hed.25344Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85059862171 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 17 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: Swallowing dysfunction after radiotherapy (RT) for head and neck cancer can be devastating. A randomized control trial compared swallow exercises versus exercise plus neuromuscular electrical stimulation therapy and found no overall difference in outcomes.
METHODS: Quality of life (QOL), diet, and swallowing variables collected at discrete intervals on 117 patients were reanalyzed to test the hypothesis that shorter time between the completion of radiotherapy and beginning of the swallowing therapy program yielded improved outcomes.
RESULTS: At baseline, subjects < 1 year post radiation had significantly better function than subjects >2 years post RT in several measures. Over the therapy program, the early group showed significant improvement in diet and QOL. Swallowing physiologic variables showed no difference between groups.
CONCLUSION: Beginning a swallowing therapy program within 1 year of completion of radiotherapy demonstrates more consistent improvement in QOL and diet performance compared to later periods.
Author List
Van Daele DJ, Langmore SE, Krisciunas GP, Lazarus CL, Pauloski BR, McCulloch TM, Gramigna GD, Messing BP, Wagner CW, Mott SLAuthor
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
DeglutitionDeglutition Disorders
Electric Stimulation Therapy
Exercise Therapy
Female
Head and Neck Neoplasms
Humans
Male
Quality of Life
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome
