The impact of time after radiation treatment on dysphagia in patients with head and neck cancer enrolled in a swallowing therapy program

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), d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Head & neck 2019-03, Vol.41 (3), p.606-614
Main Authors: Van Daele, Douglas J., Langmore, Susan E., Krisciunas, Gintas P., Lazarus, Cathy L., Pauloski, Barbara R., McCulloch, Timothy M., Gramigna, Gary D., Messing, Barbara P., Wagner, Cynthia W., Mott, Sarah L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cancer
Diet
Dysphagia
Electrical stimuli
Head & neck cancer
head and neck cancer
neuromuscular electrical stimulation
Patients
Quality of life
Radiation therapy
rehabilitation
Swallowing
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Summary: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 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.
ISSN:1043-3074
1097-0347
DOI:10.1002/hed.25344