Abstract
We sought to describe the findings of modified barium swallow study after chemoradiation in patients with head and neck cancer and to correlate these findings with clinical variables, including gastrostomy tube dependence and clinical pneumonia. We retrospectively reviewed 49 patients at a tertiary care center who underwent modified barium swallow study for dysphagia after chemoradiation. Patients with nonlaryngeal lesions had increased cricopharyngeal impairment (27.8% versus 0.0%; p = .04). Patients who underwent concomitant chemotherapy had increased epiglottic changes relative to those who had radiotherapy alone (66.7% versus 30.8%; p = .05). Clinical pneumonia developed in 31.9% of the patients, and 79.6% required gastrostomy tube placement for a mean duration of 18.1 months. Chemoradiation effects deglutition at multiple levels. A large percentage of patients will develop pneumonia and feeding tube dependence. This study is among the largest to correlate the results of modified barium swallow studies to clinical variables in this patient population. This study highlights the significant incidence of gastrostomy tube dependence and pneumonia in these patients.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.