Swallowing disorders in the first year after radiation and chemoradiation

TLDR

Radiation alone or concurrent chemoradiation can cause severe swallowing disorders. This study defines swallowing disorders at pretreatment, 3 months, and 12 months after radiation or chemoradiation. Forty‑eight patients underwent videofluorographic evaluation of oropharyngeal swallow at three time points. Baseline swallowing disorders were present, increased at 3 months, and some persisted at 12 months; functional swallowing declined over time in chemoradiation patients but remained stable in radiation‑only patients, leading to fewer functional swallowers after 12 months of chemoradiation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Head Neck, 2008.

Abstract

Abstract Background Radiation alone or concurrent chemoradiation can result in severe swallowing disorders. This manuscript defines the swallowing disorders occurring at pretreatment and 3 and 12 months after completion of radiation or chemoradiation. Methods Forty‐eight patients (10 women and 38 men) participated in this study involving videofluorographic evaluation of oropharyngeal swallow at the 3 time points. Results At baseline, patients had some swallow disorders, probably related to presence of their tumor. At 3 months posttreatment, frequency of reduced tongue base retraction, slow or delayed laryngeal vestibule closure, and reduced laryngeal elevation increased from baseline. Some disorders continued at 12 months posttreatment. Functional swallow decreased over time in patients treated with chemoradiation, but not those treated with radiation alone. Discussion Chemoradiation results in fewer functional swallowers than radiation alone at 12 months posttreatment completion. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2008