Factors affecting swallow outcome following treatment for advanced oral and oropharyngeal malignancies. Issue 1 (4th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kalavrezos, Nicholas; Cotrufo, Stefano; Govender, Roganie; Rogers, Pauline; Pirgousis, Phil; Balasundram, Sathesh; Lalabekyan, Bagrat; Liew, Colin
• Is Part Of: Head & neck. Volume 36:Issue 1(2014:Jan.)
• Page Start: 47
• Page End: 54
• Publication Date: 2013-04-04
• Subjects: Head -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neck -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Head -- Periodicals; Neck -- Periodicals; Face -- Periodicals; 617.51059
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.23262
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-3074

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="hed23262-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Treatment for tumors of the oral cavity and the oropharynx disrupts normal swallow function. The ability for oral diet postoperatively varies and may be influenced by surgery and patient‐related factors.</p> </sec> <sec id="hed23262-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>In all, 114 patients treated with surgery with and without chemoradiotherapy for advanced oral/oropharyngeal cancer were recruited. Clinicopathologic tumor parameters and reconstruction modalities were recorded. Swallow function was determined by oral intake, using the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) pretreatment and posttreatment.</p> </sec> <sec id="hed23262-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The median time to first attaining swallow function was 14 days. Patients were less likely to attain tube independence within 1 year of surgery if they received radiotherapy or had a low FOIS score preoperatively. Patients' time to first attaining swallow function postsurgery was inversely related to the FOIS score presurgery.</p> </sec> <sec id="hed23262-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Swallow function recovery postsurgery is better in patients with higher FOIS presurgery, smaller tumors, and no requirement for radiotherapy. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. <italic>Head Neck</italic><bold>36</bold>: 47–54, 2014</p> </sec> </abstract>