Dysphagia in head and neck cancer patients: Pretreatment evaluation, predictive factors, and assessment during radio-chemotherapy, recommendations

Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology

Volumn 6, Issue 3, 2013, Pages 117-126

  Denaro, Nerina ^a   Merlano, Marco C ^a   Russi, Elvio G ^a  

^a S CROCE E CARLE HOSPITAL   (Italy)

Author keywords

Acute toxicity; Chemoradiotherapy; Dysphagia; Head and neck cancer; Late toxicity; Malnutrition; Weight loss

Indexed keywords

EID: 84884542481     PISSN: 19768710     EISSN: 20050720     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.3342/ceo.2013.6.3.117     Document Type: Review

References (67)

1. Argiris A, Li Y, Forastiere A. Prognostic factors and long-term survivorship in patients with recurrent or metastatic carcinoma of the head and neck. Cancer. 2004 Nov;101(10):2222-2229.
2. Pignon JP, Le Maitre A, Maillard E, Bourhis J; MACH-NC Collaborative Group. Meta-analysis of chemotherapy in head and neck cancer (MACH-NC): an update on 93 randomised trials and 17,346 patients. Radiother Oncol. 2009 Jul;92(1):4-14.
3. Feng F Y, Kim HM, Lyden TH, Haxer MJ, Worden FP, Feng M, et al. Intensity-modulated chemoradiotherapy aiming to reduce dyspha-gia in patients with oropharyngeal cancer: clinical and functional results. J Clin Oncol. 2010 Jun;28(16):2732-2738.
4. Russi EG, Corvo R, Merlotti A, Alterio D, Franco P, Pergolizzi S, et al. Swallowing dysfunction in head and neck cancer patients treated by radiotherapy: review and recommendations of the supportive task group of the Italian Association of Radiation Oncology. Cancer Treat Rev. 2012 Dec;38(8):1033-1049.
5. Pikus L, Levine MS, Yang YX, Rubesin SE, Katzka DA, Laufer I, et al. Videofluoroscopic studies of swallowing dysfunction and the relative risk of pneumonia. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2003 Jun;180(6): 1613-1616.
6. Christianen ME, Schilstra C, Beetz I, Muijs CT, Chouvalova O, Bur-lage FR, et al. Predictive modelling for swallowing dysfunction after primary (chemo)radiation: results of a prospective observational study. Radiother Oncol. 2012 Oct;105(1):107-114.
7. Eisbruch A, Kim HM, Feng F Y, Lyden TH, Haxer MJ, Feng M, et al. Chemo-IMRT of oropharyngeal cancer aiming to reduce dysphagia: swallowing organs late complication probabilities and dosimetric correlates. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2011 Nov;81(3):e93-e99.
8. Langendijk JA, Doornaert P, Verdonck-de Leeuw IM, Leemans CR, Aaronson NK, Slotman BJ. Impact of late treatment-related toxicity on quality of life among patients with head and neck cancer treated with radiotherapy. J Clin Oncol. 2008 Aug;26(22):3770-3776.
9. Nguyen NP, Moltz CC, Frank C, Karlsson U, Smith HJ, Nguyen PD, et al. Severity and duration of chronic dysphagia following treatment for head and neck cancer. Anticancer Res. 2005 Jul-Aug;25(4):2929-2934.
10. Trotti A, Bellm LA, Epstein JB, Frame D, Fuchs HJ, Gwede CK, et al. Mucositis incidence, severity and associated outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy: a systematic literature review. Radiother Oncol. 2003 Mar;66(3):253-262.
11. Logemann JA, Larsen K. Oropharyngeal dysphagia: pathophysiolo-gy and diagnosis for the anniversary issue of Diseases of the Esophagus. Dis Esophagus. 2012 May;25(4):299-304.
12. Rosenbek JC, Robbins JA, Roecker EB, Coyle JL, Wood JL. A penetration-aspiration scale. Dysphagia. 1996;11(2):93-98.
13. Eisbruch A, Lyden T, Bradford CR, Dawson LA, Haxer MJ, Miller AE, et al. Objective assessment of swallowing dysfunction and aspiration after radiation concurrent with chemotherapy for head-and-neck cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2002 May;53(1):23-28.
14. Van der Molen L, van Rossum MA, Burkhead LM, Smeele LE, Hilg-ers FJ. Functional outcomes and rehabilitation strategies in patients treated with chemoradiotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer: a systematic review. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2009 Jun;266(6): 889-900.
15. Rutten H, Pop LA, Janssens GO, Takes RP, Knuijt S, Rooijakkers AF, et al. Long-term outcome and morbidity after treatment with accelerated radiotherapy and weekly cisplatin for locally advanced head-and-neck cancer: results of a multidisciplinary late morbidity clinic. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2011 Nov;81(4):923-929.
16. Wieseke A, Bantz D, Siktberg L, Dillard N. Assessment and early diagnosis of dysphagia. Geriatr Nurs. 2008 Nov-Dec;29(6):376-383.
17. Murphy BA, Gilbert J. Dysphagia in head and neck cancer patients treated with radiation: assessment, sequelae, and rehabilitation. Se-min Radiat Oncol. 2009 Jan;19(1):35-42.
18. Pauloski BR, Rademaker AW, Logemann JA, Lazarus CL, Newman L, Hamner A, et al. Swallow function and perception of dysphagia in patients with head and neck cancer. Head Neck. 2002 Jun;24(6): 555-565.
19. Rosen A, Rhee TH, Kaufman R. Prediction of aspiration in patients with newly diagnosed untreated advanced head and neck cancer. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2001 Aug;127(8):975-979.
20. Martin-Harris B, Michel Y, Castell DO. Physiologic model of oropha-ryngeal swallowing revisited. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2005 Aug;133(2):234-240.
21. Aviv JE. Prospective, randomized outcome study of endoscopy versus modified barium swallow in patients with dysphagia. Laryngoscope. 2000 Apr;110(4):563-574.
22. Langendijk JA, Doornaert P, Rietveld DH, Verdonck-de Leeuw IM, Leemans CR, et al. A predictive model for swallowing dysfunction after curative radiotherapy in head and neck cancer. Radiother Oncol. 2009 Feb;90(2):189-195.
23. Koiwai K, Shikama N, Sasaki S, Shinoda A, Kadoya M. Validation of the Total Dysphagia Risk Score (TDRS) as a predictive measure for acute swallowing dysfunction induced by chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancers. Radiother Oncol. 2010 Oct;97(1):132-135.
24. Martino R, Ringash J. Evaluation of quality of life and organ function in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2008 Dec;22(6):1239-1256.
25. Starmer H, Sanguineti G, Marur S, Gourin CG. Multidisciplinary head and neck cancer clinic and adherence with speech pathology. Laryngoscope. 2011 Oct;121(10):2131-215.
26. Shune SE, Karnell LH, Karnell MP, Van Daele DJ, Funk GF. Association between severity of dysphagia and survival in patients with head and neck cancer. Head Neck. 2012 Jun;34(6):776-784.
27. Logemann JA. Update on clinical trials in Dysphagia. Dysphagia. 2006 Apr;21(2):116-120.
28. Frowen J, Cotton S, Corry J, Perry A. Impact of demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment factors on swallowing after (che-mo)radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Head Neck. 2010 Apr; 32(4):513-528.
29. Langius JA, Doornaert P, Spreeuwenberg MD, Langendijk JA, Lee-mans CR, van Bokhorst-de van der Schueren MA. Radiotherapy on the neck nodes predicts severe weight loss in patients with early stage laryngeal cancer. Radiother Oncol. 2010 Oct;97(1):80-85.
30. Dirix P, Abbeel S, Vanstraelen B, Hermans R, Nuyts S. Dysphagia after chemoradiotherapy for head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma: dose-effect relationships for the swallowing structures. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2009 Oct;75(2):385-392.
31. Eisbruch A, Schwartz M, Rasch C, Vineberg K, Damen E, Van As CJ, et al. Dysphagia and aspiration after chemoradiotherapy for head-and-neck cancer: which anatomic structures are affected and can they be spared by IMRT? Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2004 Dec; 60(5):1425-1439.
32. Gaziano JE. Evaluation and management of oropharyngeal Dys-phagia in head and neck cancer. Cancer Control. 2002 Sep-Oct; 9(5):400-409.
33. Miller RM, Groher ME. Speech-language pathology and dysphagia: a brief historical perspective. Dysphagia. 1993;8(3):180-184.
34. Sessions DG, Zill R, Schwartz SL. Deglutition after conservation surgery for cancer of the larynx and hypopharynx. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1979 Nov-Dec;87(6):779-796.
35. Mortensen HR, Overgaard J, Specht L, Overgaard M, Johansen J, Evensen JF, et al. Prevalence and peak incidence of acute and late normal tissue morbidity in the DAHANCA 6&7 randomised trial with accelerated radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Radiother Oncol. 2012 Apr;103(1):69-75.
36. Levendag PC, Teguh DN, Voet P, van der Est H, Noever I, de Kruijf WJ, et al. Dysphagia disorders in patients with cancer of the oro-pharynx are significantly affected by the radiation therapy dose to the superior and middle constrictor muscle: a dose-effect relationship. Radiother Oncol. 2007 Oct;85(1):64-73.
37. Poulsen MG, Riddle B, Keller J, Porceddu S V, Tripcony L. Predictors of acute grade 4 swallowing toxicity in patients with stages III and IV squamous carcinoma of the head and neck treated with radiotherapy alone. Radiother Oncol. 2008 May;87(2):253-259.
38. Brizel DM. Radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy for the treatment of locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Semin Radiat Oncol. 1998 Oct;8(4):237-246.
39. Manikantan K, Khode S, Sayed SI, Roe J, Nutting CM, Rhys-Evans P, et al. Dysphagia in head and neck cancer. Cancer Treat Rev. 2009 Dec;35(8):724-732.
40. Forastiere AA, Goepfert H, Maor M, Pajak TF, Weber R, Morrison W, et al. Concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy for organ preservation in advanced laryngeal cancer. N Engl J Med. 2003 Nov; 349(22):2091-2098.
41. Bernier J, Domenge C, Ozsahin M, Matuszewska K, Lefebvre JL, Greiner RH, et al. Postoperative irradiation with or without concomitant chemotherapy for locally advanced head and neck cancer. N Engl J Med. 2004 May;350(19):1945-1952.
42. Cooper JS, Pajak TF, Forastiere AA, Jacobs J, Campbell BH, Saxman SB, et al. Postoperative concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy for high-risk squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck. N Engl J Med. 2004 May;350(19):1937-1944.
43. Bhide SA, Gulliford S, Kazi R, El-Hariry I, Newbold K, Harrington KJ, et al. Correlation between dose to the pharyngeal constrictors and patient quality of life and late dysphagia following chemo-IMRT for head and neck cancer. Radiother Oncol. 2009 Dec;93(3):539-544.
44. Bonner JA, Harari PM, Giralt J, Azarnia N, Shin DM, Cohen RB, et al. Radiotherapy plus cetuximab for squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck. N Engl J Med. 2006 Feb;354(6):567-578.
45. Langerman A, Maccracken E, Kasza K, Haraf DJ, Vokes EE, Stenson KM. Aspiration in chemoradiated patients with head and neck cancer. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007 Dec;133(12):1289-1295.
46. Nguyen N P, North D, Smith HJ, Dutta S, Alfieri A, Karlsson U, et al. Safety and effectiveness of prophylactic gastrostomy tubes for head and neck cancer patients undergoing chemoradiation. Surg Oncol. 2006 Dec;15(4):199-203.
47. Stenson KM, MacCracken E, List M, Haraf DJ, Brockstein B, Weich-selbaum R, et al. Swallowing function in patients with head and neck cancer prior to treatment. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2000 Mar;126(3):371-377.
48. Starmer H, Gourin C, Lua LL, Burkhead L. Pretreatment swallowing assessment in head and neck cancer patients. Laryngoscope. 2011 Jun;121(6):1208-1211.
49. Agarwal J, Palwe V, Dutta D, Gupta T, Laskar SG, Budrukkar A, et al. Objective assessment of swallowing function after definitive concurrent (chemo)radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer. Dysphagia. 2011 Dec;26(4):399-406.
50. Wu CH, Hsiao TY, Ko J Y, Hsu MM. Dysphagia after radiotherapy: endoscopic examination of swallowing in patients with nasopharyn-geal carcinoma. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2000 Mar;109(3):320-325.
51. Hughes PJ, Scott PM, Kew J, Cheung DM, Leung SF, Ahuja AT, et al. Dysphagia in treated nasopharyngeal cancer. Head Neck. 2000 Jul; 22(4):393-397.
52. Nguyen NP, Moltz CC, Frank C, Vos P, Smith HJ, Karlsson U, et al. Dysphagia following chemoradiation for locally advanced head and neck cancer. Ann Oncol. 2004 Mar;15(3):383-388.
53. Corry J, Poon W, McPhee N, Milner AD, Cruickshank D, Porceddu SV, et al. Prospective study of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tubes versus nasogastric tubes for enteral feeding in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing (chemo)radiation. Head Neck. 2009 Jul;31(7):867-876.
54. Bozzetti F. Nutritional support of the oncology patient. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2013 Aug;87(2):172-200.
55. Kiss NK, Krishnasamy M, Loeliger J, Granados A, Dutu G, Corry J. A dietitian-led clinic for patients receiving (chemo)radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Support Care Cancer. 2012 Sep;20(9):2111-2120.
56. Locher JL, Bonner JA, Carroll WR, Caudell JJ, Keith JN, Kilgore ML, et al. Prophylactic percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement in treatment of head and neck cancer: a comprehensive review and call for evidence-based medicine. JPEN J Parenter En-teral Nutr. 2011 May;35(3):365-374.
57. Langius JA, Bakker S, Rietveld DH, Kruizenga HM, Langendijk JA, Weijs PJ, et al. Critical weight loss is a major prognostic indicator for disease-specific survival in patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiotherapy. Br J Cancer. 2013 Aug 8 [Epub]. http://dx.doi. org/10.1038/bjc.2013.458.
58. Ehrsson YT, Langius-Eklöf A, Bark T, Laurell G. Percutaneous endo-scopic gastrostomy (PEG): a long-term follow-up study in head and neck cancer patients. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci. 2004 Dec;29(6): 740-746.
59. Silander E, Nyman J, Bove M, Johansson L, Larsson S, Hammerlid E. Impact of prophylactic percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy on malnutrition and quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer: a randomized study. Head Neck. 2012 Jan;34(1):1-9.
60. Rabinovitch R, Grant B, Berkey BA, Raben D, Ang KK, Fu KK, et al. Impact of nutrition support on treatment outcome in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer treated with definitive radiotherapy: a secondary analysis of RTOG trial 90-03. Head Neck. 2006 Apr;28(4):287-296.
61. Murphy BA. Clinical and economic consequences of mucositis induced by chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. J Support Oncol. 2007 Oct;5(9 Suppl 4):13-21.
62. Nugent B, Lewis S, O'Sullivan JM. Enteral feeding methods for nutritional management in patients with head and neck cancers being treated with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Jan;(1):CD007904.
63. Sanguineti G, Sormani MP, Marur S, Gunn GB, Rao N, Cianchetti M, et al. Effect of radiotherapy and chemotherapy on the risk of muco-sitis during intensity-modulated radiation therapy for oropharyngeal cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2012 May;83(1):235-242.
64. Mangar S, Slevin N, Mais K, Sykes A. Evaluating predictive factors for determining enteral nutrition in patients receiving radical radiotherapy for head and neck cancer: a retrospective review. Radiother Oncol. 2006 Feb;78(2):152-158.
65. Kulbersh BD, Rosenthal EL, McGrew BM, Duncan RD, McColloch NL, Carroll WR, et al. Pretreatment, preoperative swallowing exercises may improve dysphagia quality of life. Laryngoscope. 2006 Jun;116(6):883-886.
66. Rosenthal DI, Lewin JS, Eisbruch A. Prevention and treatment of dysphagia and aspiration after chemoradiation for head and neck cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2006 Jun;24(17):2636-2643.
67. Chen AY, Frankowski R, Bishop-Leone J, Hebert T, Leyk S, Lewin J, et al. The development and validation of a dysphagia-specific quality of life questionnaire for patients with head and neck cancer: the M. D. Anderson dysphagia inventory. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2001 Jul;127(7):870-876.