ArticleEuropean archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery2018
Analysis of dysphagia in advanced-stage head-and-neck cancer patients: impact on quality of life and development of a preventive swallowing treatment.
Article in European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 47 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
47 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 91 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effect of Tumor-Associated Sarcopenia on Swallowing Function in Patients with Cancer: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of gastrointestinal cancer · 2026Pooled it
- A randomized controlled study evaluating the head-lift exercise in head and neck cancer patients with radiation-induced dysphagia: effect on swallowing function and health-related quality of life over 12 months.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2023Trial
- Trial
- Pentoxifylline and vitamin E reduce the severity of radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis and dysphagia in head and neck cancer patients: a randomized, controlled study.Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England) · 2019Trial
- Review
- Review
- Enhancing Quality of Life in Head and Neck Cancer: A Scoping Review on the Role of Physical Prehabilitation.Cancer medicine · 2026Article
- Prehabilitation in Adult Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy: A Scoping Review.Cancers · 2026Review
- Precision rehabilitation for swallowing dysfunction after radiotherapy in head and neck cancer: current evidence, key controversies, and future perspectives.Frontiers in oncology · 2026Review
- Management of dysphagia in head and neck cancer: current and future perspectives.Frontiers in oncology · 2026Review
- Psychometric Properties of Dysphagia Handicap Index Scale for Older Adults with Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in China.Dysphagia · 2025Article
- Pre-radiotherapy multidisciplinary survivorship care and patient-reported outcomes in head and neck cancer survivors.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025Article
- [Non-surgical rehabilitation of patients with head and neck cancer].Magyar onkologia · 2025Review
- Chemotherapy/Radiotherapy-Induced Dysphagia in Head and Neck Tumors: A Challenge for Otolaryngologists in Low- to Middle-Income Countries.Dysphagia · 2025Review
- Short- and Long-Term Swallowing Outcomes in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Receiving TORS and Adjuvant Therapy.Head & neck · 2025Article
- Patient-reported outcomes in head and neck cancer: a cross-sectional analysis of quality of life domains across early and advanced UICC stages.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025Article
- Effects of chemoradiation and tongue exercise on swallow biomechanics and bolus kinematics.Head & neck · 2025Article
- The Quantification of Radiation Fibrosis Using Clinically Indicated Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Head and Neck Cancer Patients.Dysphagia · 2024Article
- Analysis of Swallowing Functional Preservation by Surgical Versus CRT After Induction Chemotherapy for Oropharyngeal Cancer.Cancers · 2024Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesSwallowing and voice dysfunctions are common side effects following head-and-neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treatment. Our aim was to analyze the relationships between quality of life, swallowing, and phonatory problems in patients with an advanced-stage HNSCC and to prospectively evaluate the effects of a prophylactic swallowing program.
methodsFirst, we retrospectively studied 60 advanced HNSCC patients treated with exclusive or adjuvant radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy (RT/CRT). Subjects were classified according to general and clinical-therapeutic features. Outcome measures included EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ-H&N35, Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI), M.D.Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI), and Voice Handicap Index (VHI). Then, we conducted a prospective evaluation of a prophylactic swallowing counselling in 12 consecutive advanced-stage HNSCC patients by a two-arm case-control analysis. These patients were treated with exclusive or adjuvant RT/CRT.
results71% of the retrospective population studied reported swallowing dysfunction as a major side effect. No differences were detected in the severity of dysphagia or dysphonia according to type of treatment or staging of the primary tumour, while hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancer patients showed significantly better swallowing ability and better QoL compared to oral cavity and oropharyngeal localisation (p < 0.05). In addition, a relevant correlation between swallowing and voice problems emerged (p < 0.05). In the prospective part, while no statistical correlation was evident before the start of RT/CRT in the experimental group compared to the control one, the former showed better performances at MDADI (p = 0.006) and DHI (p = 0.002) test 3 months after its end.
conclusionDysphagia is both an acute-and-long-term side effect which greatly affects QoL of HNSCC patients undergoing multimodality treatment. Our data show that a prophylactic swallowing program could actually produce a beneficial effect on patients' outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1b and 2b.
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