TY - JOUR T1 - Severity and Duration of Chronic Dysphagia Following Treatment for Head and Neck Cancer JF - Anticancer Research JO - Anticancer Res SP - 2929 LP - 2934 VL - 25 IS - 4 AU - NAM P. NGUYEN AU - CANDACE C. MOLTZ AU - CHERYL FRANK AU - ULF KARLSSON AU - HERBERT J. SMITH AU - PHUC D. NGUYEN AU - PAUL VOS AU - LY M. NGUYEN AU - SUE ROSE AU - SURESH DUTTA AU - SABAH SALLAH Y1 - 2005/07/01 UR - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/25/4/2929.abstract N2 - The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate chronic dysphagia (lasting 3 or more months) following treatment for head and neck cancer. Since dysphagia is a common sequela post therapy in cancer survivors, it may be helpful for the clinician to be aware of the persistence of dysphagia as well as its usual severity. Modified Barium Swallow (MBS) examinations were performed in cancer-free patients who complained of dysphagia following treatment for head and neck cancer. The severity of the dysphagia was graded on a scale of 1 to 7. Each patient had sequential MBS and underwent swallowing therapy in between. The severity of dysphagia was compared between the first and last MBS study to determine whether the swallowing function had returned to normal. Results: Between 1996 and 2004, 12 patients with dysphagia underwent repeated MBS following treatment. Swallowing function did not return to normal in all patients. At a median time of 29 months following treatment (range 8 to 94 months), the severity of dysphagia decreased in 8 patients (67%), remained unchanged in 3 patients (25%) and worsened in 1 patient (8%). Chronic dysphagia following treatment is unlikely to resolve with time despite rehabilitation therapy. Excessive scarring following treatment may be responsible for the persistence and severity of dysphagia. Physicians should be aware of the long-term effects of dysphagia on patient nutrition and psychological well-being. Copyright© 2005 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved ER -