Effects of radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy on tongue strength and swallowing in patients with oral cancer

• Published in: Head & neck Vol. 29; no. 7; pp. 632 - 637
• Main Authors: Lazarus, Cathy, Logemann, Jeri A., Pauloski, Barbara Roa, Rademaker, Alfred W., Helenowski, Irene B., Vonesh, Edward F., MacCracken, Ellen, Mittal, Bharat B., Vokes, Everett E., Haraf, Daniel J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.07.2007; John Wiley & Sons
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Carboplatin - administration & dosage; chemoradiotherapy; Deglutition - drug effects; Deglutition - radiation effects; Female; Fluoroscopy; Follow-Up Studies; head and neck cancer; Humans; longitudinal analysis; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mouth Neoplasms - therapy; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms - therapy; Otorhinolaryngology (head neck, general aspects and miscellaneous); Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Paclitaxel - administration & dosage; Prospective Studies; residue; Tongue - drug effects; Tongue - radiation effects; tongue strength; Tumors; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology; Human; Tongue; Oral cancer; Stomatology; longitudinal analysis; Malignant tumor; Swallowing; Radiotherapy; Chemoradiotherapy; residue; Chemotherapy; tongue strength; Treatment; Follow up study; ENT disease; Head and neck cancer; Oral cavity disease; Strength
• ISSN: 1043-3074; 1097-0347
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.20577

Background. Oral tongue strength and swallowing ability are reduced in patients treated with chemoradiotherapy for oral and oropharyngeal cancer. Methods. Patients with oral or oropharyngeal cancer treated with high‐dose chemoradiotherapy underwent tongue strength, swallowing, and dietary assessments at pretreatment and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months posttreatment. Tongue strength was assessed using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI). Oral and pharyngeal residue was evaluated utilizing videofluoroscopy. Results. Mean maximum tongue strength dropped a nonsignificant amount immediately after treatment, and then increased significantly at 6‐ and 12‐months posttreatment completion. Analyses were adjusted for patient dropout. Tongue strength was not significantly correlated with swallow observations of percentage oral and pharyngeal residue. Ability to eat various diet consistencies was reduced after treatment but improved over time at a rate similar to changes in oral intake and type of diet. Conclusions. Parallel but not significant changes in oral intake, diet, and tongue strength in the first year post chemoradiation therapy need further study in a larger population. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2007