Long-term swallowing after chemoradiotherapy: A prospective study of functional and patient-reported changes over time

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Abstract

Background This prospective study evaluated long-term swallowing outcomes and associated risk factors 5 years postchemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Methods Following an earlier study of 69 patients, 39 patients had patient-reported activity and quality of life (QOL) data collected. Twenty-one patients also underwent a videofluoroscopy swallowing study (VFSS). Results Between 6 months and 5 years posttreatment, patient-reported activity for solid foods significantly improved (p <.001), returning to pretreatment levels for 74% of patients. On VFSS, swallowing function for semisolids declined, with 5 patients demonstrating a clinically significant deterioration. Factors that predicted poorer long-term swallowing were the same as at 6 months, with the addition of older age and disease stage. Conclusion Although long-term patient-reported activity improves and swallowing-related QOL is high, up to 24% of patients may demonstrate a clinically significant deterioration in swallowing function at 5 years posttreatment. This divergence suggests a degree of adaptation that patients develop, which warrants further investigation.

Original languageEnglish (Ireland)
Pages (from-to)-
JournalHead And Neck-Journal For The Sciences And Specialties Of The Head And Neck
Volume38
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2016

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