Transoral laser microsurgery ± adjuvant therapy versus chemoradiotherapy for stage III and IVA oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: Preliminary comparison of early swallowing outcomes. Issue 10 (9th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: O'Hara, James; Cosway, Benjamin; Muirhead, Colin; Leonard, Nicola; Goff, Diane; Patterson, Joanne
• Is Part Of: Head & neck. Volume 37:Issue 10(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1488
• Page End: 1494
• Publication Date: 2015-02-09
• Subjects: oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma -- transoral surgery -- chemoradiotherapy -- swallowing; Head -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neck -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Head -- Periodicals; Neck -- Periodicals; Face -- Periodicals; 617.51059
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.23790
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-3074

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Observational data suggests transoral surgery may offer benefit in swallowing over chemoradiotherapy. Methods: In this preliminary, non‐randomized study, patients with stage III and IVA oropharyngeal carcinoma treated with transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) were assessed pretreatment and 3 months after treatment using the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI), the Performance Status Scale (PSS), and a timed Water Swallow Test (WST). Comparisons were made with a historical chemoradiotherapy (CRT) cohort. Results: Based on patients with measurements at both times, the decrease in score between baseline and 3 months was greater for CRT patients ( n = 26–28) than for TLM ( n = 20–21) patients for each of MDADI, PSS, and WST. A repeated measures analysis that looked at all 3 scores simultaneously and allowed for missing values gave mostly similar results (except for MDADI). Conclusion: TLM was associated with good early swallowing outcomes at 3 months and may offer a benefit over CRT. The results should be viewed as preliminary data, providing useful reference for any proposed controlled trial. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 37: 1488–1494, 2015