Association of Tongue Strength and Maximum Incisal Opening with Oral Intake in Persons with Head and Neck Cancer Treated with Radiotherapy: A Retrospective Study

Persons treated with radiotherapy (RT) for cancer of the head and neck (HNC) may experience limited oral intake at treatment completion. The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine the contributions of tongue strength and maximum incisal opening (MIO) to oral intake in a cohort of veterans treated for HNC. Medical records of veterans diagnosed with HNC treated with RT who were seen by the Speech Pathology Service prior to and throughout treatment per usual care were reviewed for this study; eighty-two records met the inclusion criteria for analysis. Tongue strength in kPa, MIO in mm, feeding tube status at completion of RT, and food and liquid consistencies consumed at completion of RT were among the data abstracted from the records. Most veterans (67%) did not have a feeding tube present at the completion of RT and reported drinking thin liquids (84.2%) at treatment completion. Eighteen percent reported including all food consistencies in their diet at the end of treatment. Both MIO and tongue strength decreased after treatment. Greater tongue strength during RT and larger MIO at the completion of RT were predictive of improved functional outcomes for oral intake at the end of treatment. This study provides evidence of the importance of increasing tongue strength and MIO during treatment with RT, and supports an important focus for intervention by speech-language pathologists.

Comparison of swallowing function after intensity-modulated radiation therapy and conventional radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is hoped to protect structures important for swallow function. We compared posttreatment swallow function in 7 pairs of patients with head and neck cancer treated with either IMRT or conventional radiotherapy (RT).

METHODS

Patients were matched on tumor characteristics. Swallowing function was evaluated with the modified barium swallow procedure pretreatment and at 3 and 6 months postcancer treatment completion. Swallows were analyzed for bolus transit times, bolus residues, laryngeal closure (LAC) duration, cricopharyngeal opening (CPO) duration, and oropharyngeal swallow efficiency (OPSE). Data were analyzed using multifactor repeated measures analysis of variance and adjusted for baseline function.

RESULTS

Main effect of radiation type was significant for all measures on at least 1 bolus type. Patients treated with IMRT demonstrated shorter bolus transit times, less oral and pharyngeal residue, longer LAC, and larger OPSE.

CONCLUSION

Patients treated with IMRT demonstrated faster, more efficient swallows, and greater airway protection.

Efficacy of electrical stimulation and exercise for dysphagia in patients with head and neck cancer: A randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is a highly sought after but poorly studied treatment for dysphagia among patients with head and neck cancer with dysphagia. This study investigated the efficacy of NMES in this patient population.

METHODS

In this double-blinded, randomized controlled trial, 170 patients with head and neck cancer experiencing posttreatment dysphagia were randomized into active NMES + swallow exercise versus sham NMES + swallow exercise groups. Outcomes after a 12-week program included changes in fluoroscopy measures, diet, and quality of life.

RESULTS

After the 12-week program, the active NMES group had significantly worse Penetration Aspiration Scale scores than the sham group. Both groups reported significantly better diet and quality of life. No other measures were significant.

CONCLUSION

NMES did not add benefit to traditional swallow exercises. Unfortunately, swallow exercises were not effective by themselves either. For patients with head and neck cancer with moderate to severe dysphagia caused by radiation therapy, current behavioral therapies are of limited help in reversing long-term dysphagia. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Head Neck 38: E1221-E1231, 2016.

Effect of induction chemotherapy on swallow physiology and saliva production in patients with head and neck cancer: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

No objective data are available to assess the potential damage induction chemotherapy alone contributes to swallowing physiology and salivary production in patients with locally and regionally confined head and neck cancer.

METHODS

Thirteen patients with head and neck cancer were evaluated preinduction and postinduction chemotherapy. Assessment included: (1) percentage of nutrition taken orally and food consistencies in diet; (2) videofluorographic swallow evaluation; (3) whole mouth saliva collection; (4) quality-of-life questionnaire; and (5) pain and oral mucositis scores.

RESULTS

All patients were able to consume most foods and took 100% of their nutrition orally both preinduction and postinduction chemotherapy. Although a number of swallow measures worsened, no statistically significant differences were observed in diet, quality of life measures, pain, or saliva weight, or in most temporal swallow measures. Pharyngeal residue decreased significantly after chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Induction chemotherapy alone did not significantly negatively alter swallowing physiology and salivary secretion, although the trend was toward worsening in function.

Effects of enhanced bolus flavors on oropharyngeal swallow in patients treated for head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

Treatment for head and neck cancer can reduce peripheral sensory input and impair oropharyngeal swallow. This study examined the effect of enhanced bolus flavor on liquid swallows in these patients.

METHODS

Fifty-one patients treated for head and neck cancer with chemoradiation or surgery and 64 healthy adult control subjects served as subjects. All were randomized to receive sour, sweet, or salty bolus flavor. Patients were evaluated at 7-10 days, 1 month, and 3 months after completion of tumor treatment. Control subjects received 1 assessment.

RESULTS

All bolus flavors affected oropharyngeal swallow; sour flavor significantly shortened pharyngeal transit time across all evaluations.

CONCLUSIONS

Sour flavor influenced the swallow of patients treated for head and neck cancer, as well as that of control subjects in a manner similar to those with neurologic impairment observed in an earlier study. Sour flavor may improve the speed of pharyngeal transit regardless of whether a patient has suffered peripheral or central sensory damage.

Relation of mucous membrane alterations to oral intake during the first year after treatment for head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

Acute oral mucositis is associated with pain and impaired swallowing. Little information is available on the effects of chronic mucositis on swallowing.

METHODS

Sixty patients treated for cancer of the head and neck were examined during the first year after their cancer treatment. Oral mucosa was rated with the Oral Mucositis Assessment Scale. Stimulated whole-mouth saliva, oral pain rating, percent of oral intake, and 2 subscales of the Performance Status Scale for Head and Neck (PSS-HN) cancer were also collected.

RESULTS

Mucositis scores and pain ratings decreased over time while functional measures of eating improved over time. Reduction in chronic mucositis was correlated with improved oral intake and diet.

CONCLUSION

Lack of association with pain was attributed to the absence of ulcerations. Continued impairment of oral intake during the first year posttreatment may be related to oral mucosal changes and other factors.

A randomized study comparing the Shaker exercise with traditional therapy: a preliminary study

Seven institutions participated in this small clinical trial that included 19 patients who exhibited oropharyngeal dysphagia on videofluorography (VFG) involving the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) and who had a 3-month history of aspiration. All patients were randomized to either traditional swallowing therapy or the Shaker exercise for 6 weeks. Each patient received a modified barium swallow pre- and post-therapy, including two swallows each of 3 ml and 5 ml liquid barium and 3 ml barium pudding. Each videofluorographic study was sent to a central laboratory and digitized in order to measure hyoid and larynx movement as well as UES opening. Fourteen patients received both pre-and post-therapy VFG studies. There was significantly less aspiration post-therapy in patients in the Shaker group. Residue in the various oral and pharyngeal locations did not differ between the groups. With traditional therapy, there were several significant increases from pre- to post-therapy, including superior laryngeal movement and superior hyoid movement on 3-ml pudding swallows and anterior laryngeal movement on 3-ml liquid boluses, indicating significant improvement in swallowing physiology. After both types of therapy there is a significant increase in UES opening width on 3-ml paste swallows.

The Feasibility of Establishing Agreement Between Laboratories for Measures of Oropharyngeal Structural Movements

Kinematic analysis, also commonly referred to as biomechanical analysis, of the swallow is used to measure movement of oropharyngeal structures over time. Two laboratory directors who have used kinematic analysis in their research collaborated to determine the feasibility of establishing agreement between two separate laboratories on measures of structural movements of the swallow. This report describes the process that was followed toward the goal of establishing measurement agreement. Under the direction of the laboratory directors, one research technician from each laboratory participated in a process that included initial meetings, training sessions, and pre- and post-training evaluation of reproducibility.Because agreement on initial measures of structural movement demonstrated weak correlation on some measures, the research technicians trained together for approximately 6 hours. After training, statistical analyses indicated that (a) most Pearson correlations for measures of structural movements were greater than 0.80 and were highly statistically significant; (b) most percentages of absolute deviation were under 25%; and (c) most concordance coefficients were above .70. These statistics indicate that the two laboratories were able to increase their level of agreement in measuring selected structural movements of the swallow after a brief amount of training.Factors affecting measurement agreement include image quality, establishment of rules for measuring, and the opportunity for regular discussions among research assistants and investigators from both laboratories.

Relationship between manometric and videofluoroscopic measures of swallow function in healthy adults and patients treated for head and neck cancer with various modalities

Pharyngeal manometry complements the modified barium swallow with videofluoroscopy (VFS) in diagnosing pressure-related causes of dysphagia. When manometric analysis is not feasible, it would be ideal if pressure information about the swallow could be inferred accurately from the VFS evaluation. Swallowing function was examined using VFS and concurrent manometry in 18 subjects (11 head and neck patients treated with various modalities and 7 healthy adults). Nonparametric univariate and multivariate analyses revealed significant relationships between manometric and fluoroscopic variables. Increases in pressure wave amplitude were significantly correlated with increased duration of tongue base to pharyngeal wall contact, reduced bolus transit times, and oropharyngeal residue. Pharyngeal residue was the most important VFS variable in reflecting pharyngeal pressure measurements. Certain VFS measures were significantly correlated with measures of pressure assessed with manometry. Further research is needed before observations and measures from VFS alone may be deemed sufficient for determining pressure-generation difficulties during the swallow in patients who are unable or unwilling to submit to manometric testing.

Swallowing disorders in the first year after radiation and chemoradiation

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.

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

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.

Relationship between swallow motility disorders on videofluorography and oral intake in patients treated for head and neck cancer with radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Current research demonstrates that swallow function is impaired after treatment with organ-sparing chemoradiotherapy. Few studies, however, have related observed swallowing disorders with the patient's oral intake and diet in a large cohort of patients.

METHODS

Swallowing function was examined using the modified barium swallow (MBS) procedure in 170 patients treated with radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy for cancer of the head and neck at 5 evaluation points: pretreatment and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months posttreatment. Fisher's exact test was used to examine the relationship between swallow motility disorders and oral intake or diet consistencies.

RESULTS

Limitations in oral intake and diet during the first year after cancer treatment were significantly related to reduced laryngeal elevation, reduced cricopharyngeal opening, and rating of nonfunctional swallow on at least 1 swallow of any bolus type.

CONCLUSIONS

Swallow motility disorders had a significant impact on the eating ability of patients after treatment for head and neck cancer with radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy.

Site of disease and treatment protocol as correlates of swallowing function in patients with head and neck cancer treated with chemoradiation

BACKGROUND

The relationship between type of chemoradiation treatment, site of disease, and swallowing function has not been sufficiently examined in patients with head and neck cancer treated primarily with chemoradiation.

METHODS

Fifty-three patients with advanced-stage head and neck cancer were evaluated before and 3 months after chemoradiation treatment to define their swallowing disorders and characterize their swallowing physiology by site of lesion and chemoradiation protocol. One hundred forty normal subjects were also studied.

RESULTS

The most common disorders at baseline and 3 months after treatment were reduced tongue base retraction, reduced tongue strength, and slowed or delayed laryngeal vestibule closure. Frequency of functional swallow did not differ significantly across disease sites after treatment, although frequency of disorders was different at various sites of lesion. The effects of the chemotherapy protocols were small.

CONCLUSIONS

The site of the lesion affects the frequency of occurrence of specific swallow disorders, whereas chemoradiation protocols have minimal effect on oropharyngeal swallow function.

The relationship between observations and measures of oral and pharyngeal residue from videofluorography and scintigraphy

We examined measures of oral and pharyngeal residues from scintigraphic studies and estimates/observations from videofluorographic (modified barium swallow) studies taken on the same day but not concurrently in 16 dysphagic patients of varying etiologies presenting with oral and/or pharyngeal dysphagia. Oral and pharyngeal residuals following the swallow were quantified scintigraphically and were then compared with measures of residuals obtained from the modified barium swallow. Estimates of oral and pharyngeal residues from the modified barium swallows were generated by a trained observer who was blinded to the scintigraphic data. Positive and significant Spearman correlations between oral and pharyngeal residue measures from scintigraphy and observations of oral and pharyngeal residues from modified barium swallows were found. This supports the validity of observations of oral and pharyngeal residues in clinical studies. Limitations of these observations are discussed.

Beyond efficacy and effectiveness: conducting economic analyses during clinical trials

Few studies have examined cost issues in the field of dysphagia. This study presents cost data collected during a clinical trial in speech-language pathology, demonstrating the types of cost analyses that can be conducted and highlighting obstacles and issues facing investigators who seek to conduct economic analyses in this arena. Seventy-nine patients were enrolled in the clinical trial to assess the impact of a swallowing intervention on swallowing and speech function. The patients were at least one year past treatment for head and neck cancer. No significant intervention differences were detected in these outcomes. A companion economic analysis was conducted in 37 of these patients using patient diaries and followup with identified health care providers. Analyses indicated that (1) the intervention did not significantly reduce health care expenditures; (2) indirect costs and costs of hospitalizations are both important factors to consider during a trial; and (3) health care costs of this population are high relative to the rest of the U.S. population. Attrition from the overall study population can pose a serious threat to the viability of an economic study. The article concludes with a discussion of how these issues can be addressed in future studies.

Prioritizing treatment outcomes: head and neck cancer patients versus nonpatients

BACKGROUND

Treatment decisions in head and neck cancer (HNC) might involve consideration of uncertain tradeoffs of one late effect against another or increasing toxicity or residual impairment for increased chance of survival. Understanding how patients prioritize potential outcomes, as well as whether these preferences are similar to those of nonpatients, is important to informed decision making and treatment planning.

METHODS

Two hundred forty-seven newly diagnosed HNC patients from nine institutions and 131 nonpatients rank ordered a set of 12 potential treatment outcomes (eg, cure; being able to swallow; normal voice) from highest (1) to lowest (12).

RESULTS

Patients and nonpatients were similar with respect to the three items most frequently ranked in the top three, that is, "being cured of cancer," "living as long as possible," and "having no pain" in that order. In contrast, patients more frequently ranked "cure" (90% vs 80%) and less frequently ranked "no pain" (34% vs 52%) in the top three.

CONCLUSIONS

Survival seems to be of paramount importance to both patient and nonpatient groups, overshadowing associated toxicities and potential dysfunction. At the same time, patients might be more willing than nonpatients to undergo aggressive treatments and endure acute distress in the interest of potential long-term gains (ie, cure or longer survival).

Surgical variables affecting swallowing in patients treated for oral/oropharyngeal cancer

BACKGROUND

Postoperative swallowing function may be influenced by a number of treatment variables; this study examines the relationship of various treatment factors to measures of swallow function.

METHODS

Swallowing was examined with the modified barium swallow procedure in 144 patients surgically treated for oral or oropharyngeal cancer 3 months after healing. Univariate and multivariate correlations were used to examine the relationship between swallowing function and treatment.

RESULTS

Percent tongue base resected and total volume resected were most often correlated with swallowing function in the univariate analyses. Multivariate analyses identified the following combinations with the strongest correlations: (1) percent tongue base resected and closure type for liquids; (2) percent tongue base resected and unreconstructed mandible for pastes; (3) total volume resected, percent lateral floor of mouth resected, and postoperative radiotherapy dose for masticated boluses.

CONCLUSIONS

Total volume resected and percent tongue base resected had a profound impact on postoperative swallowing function. Combinations of percent tongue base resected with other surgical variables had the strongest relationships with overall swallowing function.

Eating ability in head and neck cancer patients after treatment with chemoradiation: A 12-month follow-up study accounting for dropout

BACKGROUND

Head and neck cancer patients treated with chemoradiation have difficulty eating a normal diet. This study was designed to characterize eating ability over 12 months after chemoradiation treatment. Analyses take patient dropout into account.

METHODS

Two hundred fifty-five patients with head and neck cancer treated with chemoradiation were followed for 12 months. Eating ability was analyzed using generalized linear model methods that accounted for non-ignorable dropout.

RESULTS

Eating ability was compromised immediately after treatment and improved over 12 months to near pretreatment levels. Ability to eat at most 50% of the diet orally did not return to baseline levels (p <.05). However, the percent of patients eating a normal diet did return to baseline levels. Accounting for dropout modified the results, but the pattern of significance was similar.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of head and neck cancer with chemoradiation has a significant effect on eating ability, which improves after 12 months after treatment.

Xerostomia: 12-month changes in saliva production and its relationship to perception and performance of swallow function, oral intake, and diet after chemoradiation

BACKGROUND

Previous investigators have found permanent changes in saliva production after chemoradiation but have not examined these in relation to swallowing measures, diet changes, and patient comfort over time.

METHODS

Thirty patients with advanced stage cancer of the oropharynx treated with chemoradiation were followed with videofluoroscopic swallow studies, a measure of stimulated total saliva production, a questionnaire of their perception of dry mouth, and a questionnaire on the nature of their oral intake at pretreatment until 12 months after treatment.

RESULTS

Saliva declined significantly from pretreatment to 12 months. Swallowing-related complaints increased significantly over the 12 months, especially in patients with lower saliva weights. Diet choices increased over time after treatment, except crunchy foods. Swallow measures did not relate to saliva weight.

CONCLUSIONS

Reduced saliva weight does not correlate with slowed or inefficient swallow. Instead, reduced saliva weight seems to change patients' perceptions of their swallowing ability and, on that basis, their diet choices.

Swallow function and perception of dysphagia in patients with head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

The relationship between subjective complaints of dysphagia and objective measures of swallow function in patients with cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx, treated with radiotherapy +/- chemotherapy has not been well documented in the literature.

METHODS

Swallowing function in 132 patients with various lesions was evaluated using videofluoroscopy and analyzed by patient complaint of dysphagia grouping.

RESULTS

Patients with complaints of dysphagia demonstrated significantly worse swallow function as indicated by lower oropharyngeal swallow efficiency (OPSE), longer transit times, larger residues, and more swallows with aspiration. Patients with complaints of dysphagia also tended to take less of their nutrition by mouth and less variety of food consistencies in their diet compared with those without complaint.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients were able to perceive decrements in their swallowing function as dysphagia and may have limited their oral intake in response to that perception. The ability to accurately perceive swallowing function may be useful for self-monitoring changes in dysphagia status during a course of swallow therapy.

Oropharyngeal swallow in younger and older women: videofluoroscopic analysis

Much of the initial research on normal swallowing has been conducted in young men. Recently, there has been increasing interest in determining whether there are differences between the sexes in swallowing function and in the effects of aging on swallowing in both sexes. This investigation examined the swallowing ability of 8 healthy young women between the ages of 21 and 29 and 8 healthy older women between the ages of 80 and 93 during two swallows each of 1 ml and 10 ml liquid boluses. Videofluoroscopic studies of these swallows were reviewed in slow motion and real time to confirm the absence of swallowing disorders. Kinematic analysis of each swallow was completed. Data on range of motion of pharyngeal structures and coordination characteristics of the oropharyngeal swallow were taken from this kinematic analysis. Position of the larynx at rest and length of neck were compared between the two groups. Data from this study were compared with previously published data on younger and older men. Interestingly, the range of motion of the older women was often greater than that of the young women. Only tongue base movement diminished significantly with age in women. Volume effects observed in duration and extent of movement during the 1 ml and 10 ml swallows were similar to those in earlier studies. Older women also exhibited an increased range of motion relative to the old men. This increase may indicate a compensation for aging effects not seen in older men.

Swallow function and perception of dysphagia in patients with head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

The relationship between subjective complaints of dysphagia and objective measures of swallow function in patients with cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx, treated with radiotherapy +/- chemotherapy has not been well documented in the literature.

METHODS

Swallowing function in 132 patients with various lesions was evaluated using videofluoroscopy and analyzed by patient complaint of dysphagia grouping.

RESULTS

Patients with complaints of dysphagia demonstrated significantly worse swallow function as indicated by lower oropharyngeal swallow efficiency (OPSE), longer transit times, larger residues, and more swallows with aspiration. Patients with complaints of dysphagia also tended to take less of their nutrition by mouth and less variety of food consistencies in their diet compared with those without complaint.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients were able to perceive decrements in their swallowing function as dysphagia and may have limited their oral intake in response to that perception. The ability to accurately perceive swallowing function may be useful for self-monitoring changes in dysphagia status during a course of swallow therapy.

Swallowing and voice effects of Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT): a pilot study

OBJECTIVE

To define the effects of Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT on swallowing and voice in eight patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

METHODS

Each patient received a modified barium swallow (MBS) in addition to voice recording before and after 1 month of LSVT. Swallowing motility disorders were defined and temporal measures of the swallow were completed from the MBS. Voice evaluation included measures of vocal intensity, fundamental frequency, and the patient's perception of speech change.

RESULTS

before LSVT, the most prevalent swallowing motility disorders were oral phase problems including reduced tongue control and strength. Reduced tongue base retraction resulting in residue in the vallecula was the most common disorder in the pharyngeal stage of the swallow. Oral transit time (OTT) and pharyngeal transit time (PTT) were prolonged. After LSVT, there was an overall 51% reduction in the number of swallowing motility disorders. Some temporal measures of swallowing were also significantly reduced as was the approximate amount of oral residue after 3 ml and 5 ml liquid swallows. Voice changes after LSVT included a significant increase in vocal intensity during sustained vowel phonation as well as during reading.

CONCLUSIONS

LSVT seemingly improved neuromuscular control of the entire upper aerodigestive tract, improving oral tongue and tongue base function during the oral and pharyngeal phases of swallowing as well as improving vocal intensity.

Effects of xerostomia on perception and performance of swallow function

BACKGROUND

Head and neck cancer treatment with high-dose chemoradiation may cause xerostomia and affect the patient's perception of swallowing ability.

METHOD

Whole saliva production was measured in 36 patients with advanced-stage cancer of the oropharynx before treatment and 3 months after treatment by weighing a 4 x 4 inch gauze before and after a 2-minute chewing period. Presence of multiple eating difficulties was measured by patient interview. Swallowing was examined videofluorographically (VFG).

RESULTS

Saliva weight decreased from a mean (SEM) of 5.1 (0.5) g pretreatment to 1.4 (0.5) g after treatment (p<.0001). At 3 months, significantly more patients perceived difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, needing water while eating, food stuck in the mouth or throat, and change in taste. Saliva weight was not correlated with VFG measures of bolus transit or observations of residue.

CONCLUSIONS

Chemoradiation treatment results in xerostomia and a significant increase in patient perception of swallowing difficulties. Saliva weight in patients who perceive swallowing problems was lower. Xerostomia did not affect the physiologic aspects of bolus transport. Xerostomia affected the sensory process and comfort of eating more than bolus transport.

Temporal and biomechanical characteristics of oropharyngeal swallow in younger and older men

As the U.S. population ages, there is increasing need for data on the effects of aging in healthy elderly individuals over age 80. This investigation compared the swallowing ability of 8 healthy younger men between the ages of 21 and 29 and 8 healthy older men between the ages of 80 and 94 during two swallows each of 1 ml and 10 ml liquid. Videofluoroscopic studies of these swallows were analyzed to confirm the absence of swallowing disorders. Biomechanical analysis of each swallow was completed, from which data on temporal, range of motion, and coordination characteristics of the oropharyngeal swallow were taken. Position of the larynx at rest, length of neck, and pattern of hyoid bone movement were also compared between the two groups. None of the younger or older men exhibited any swallowing disorders. The C2 to C4 distance of older men was significantly shorter than that of younger men, and laryngeal position at rest was lower than in younger men but not significantly so. Older men had a significantly longer pharyngeal delay than younger men and significantly faster onset of posterior pharyngeal wall movement in relation to first cricopharyngeal opening. The older men exhibited significantly reduced maximum vertical and anterior hyoid movement as compared to the younger men even when accounting for the difference in C2 to C4 distance in older men. These data support the hypothesis of reduced muscular reserve in the swallows of older men as compared to younger men. Older men also exhibited less width of cricopharyngeal opening than younger men at 10 ml volume, indicating less upper esophageal sphincter flexibility in the swallows of older men. The potential for exercise to improve reserve is discussed. Significant changes in extent of hyoid elevation and duration of cricopharyngeal opening were seen as liquid bolus volume increased.

Pretreatment swallowing function in patients with head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

Few objective data characterizing the pretreatment swallow function of patients with head and neck cancer are available.

METHODS

Pretreatment swallowing function in 352 patients with various lesions was evaluated with videofluoroscopy and compared with control subjects.

RESULTS

Patients had significantly longer oral and pharyngeal transit times, greater amounts of oral and pharyngeal residue, shorter cricopharyngeal opening durations, and lower swallow efficiencies. Swallow function worsened significantly with increased tumor stage, and patients with oral or pharyngeal lesions had worse swallow function than patients with laryngeal lesions. Frequency of complaint of swallow difficulty before treatment was 59%. Patients with lower stage tumors had fewer complaints of swallowing, as did patients with oral cavity lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite demonstrating significant differences from control subjects, patients had highly functional swallows before treatment. The tendency for patients not to perceive a swallowing problem is consistent with the highly functional nature of their pretreatment swallow.

Swallowing and tongue function following treatment for oral and oropharyngeal cancer

This study examined tongue function and its relation to swallowing in 13 subjects with oral or oropharyngeal cancer treated with primary radiotherapy +/- chemotherapy and 13 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Measures of swallowing and tongue function were obtained using videofluoroscopy, pretreatment and 2 months posttreatment. Maximum isometric strength and endurance at 50% of maximum strength were obtained with the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI). Control subjects were tested once. All subjects with head and neck cancer were evaluated pretreatment and 2 months posttreatment. No significant differences were found for the tongue function measures pre- and 2 months posttreatment in the group with head and neck cancer. Significantly higher tongue strength was observed in the control than in the group with head and neck cancer both pre- and posttreatment. No significant differences were found for the 2 groups for tongue endurance measures. Significant correlations of tongue strength and endurance and some swallow measures were found pre- and posttreatment for the group with head and neck cancer and for the control group. These correlations included oral and pharyngeal temporal swallow measures and oropharyngeal swallow efficiency. Pretreatment differences between the 2 groups in tongue strength were likely related to tumor bulk, pain, and soreness. Two-month posttreatment differences were likely related to radiation +/- chemotherapy changes to the oral and pharyngeal mucosa. This study provides support for the hypothesis that tongue strength plays a role in oropharyngeal swallowing, particularly related to the oral phase of the swallow.

Impact of tongue base and posterior pharyngeal wall biomechanics on pharyngeal clearance in irradiated postsurgical oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Postsurgical oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients may experience pharyngeal clearance problems after completion of postoperative radiotherapy.

METHODS

Swallowing was examined in six patients using videofluoroscopy for up to 1 year after surgery. Biomechanical analysis was used to mark movement of the tongue base and posterior pharyngeal wall during swallowing.

RESULTS

The majority of patients experienced increased problems with pharyngeal clearance at or after their 6 month posthealing evaluation, generally 18 to 22 weeks after completion of radiotherapy. Pharyngeal residue was associated with a disruption in either tongue base or posterior pharyngeal wall movement.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased fibrosis of the pharyngeal musculature after completion of radiotherapy may have a negative impact on pharyngeal clearance in addition to any pharyngeal clearance problems resulting from surgical resection. Tongue base to posterior pharyngeal wall contact is essential but not sufficient for effective pharyngeal clearance. Sufficient duration of tongue base to posterior pharyngeal wall contact is also needed to provide adequate pharyngeal bolus driving pressure.

Relating speech and swallow function to dropout in a longitudinal study of head and neck cancer

The relation between functional outcome and dropout from a 12-month follow-up period was examined in a longitudinal study whose objective was to define and quantify the functional effects of oral surgical resection and reconstruction on speech and swallowing in patients with head and neck cancer. In a group of 150 patients recruited to a surgical study in the Cancer Control Science Program in Head and Neck Cancer Rehabilitation, dropout from all causes and dropout from specific causes (medical, patient, and administrative specific) were assessed in relation to longitudinal speech and swallow function. In univariate analysis, better speech articulation was associated with decreased risk of dropout from all causes and from medical-specific causes. Better swallow performance was associated with decreased risk of medical-specific dropout. Multivariate analysis revealed the following: (1) only articulation function was associated with dropout from all causes; (2) the association of speech articulation function with medical dropout was diminished after adjusting for advanced age and surgical resection variables; (3) the association of speech articulation function became significant for patient-specific dropout after adjusting for advanced age and surgical resection variables and indicated that better function decreased the risk of this type of dropout; and (4) swallowing function was not related to dropout. Patients treated for oral or oropharyngeal cancer who have poorer speech outcomes are more likely to drop out from a longitudinal study. Basing study results on only patients who complete a longitudinal study will understate the level of dysfunction experienced.

Failure of cricopharyngeal myotomy to improve dysphagia following head and neck cancer surgery

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether cricopharyngeal myotomy can improve dysphagia associated with head and neck cancer surgery.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized, multicenter trial.

SETTING

Twelve clinical sites across the United States.

PATIENTS

Between 1989 and 1994, 125 patients undergoing combined modality therapy for head and neck cancer, including resection of the tongue base or supraglottic larynx, were prospectively entered into the trial.

INTERVENTION

Cricopharyngeal myotomy on a randomized basis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Videofluoroscopic examination to determine oropharyngeal swallowing efficiency, which is defined as the ratio of percentage of the bolus swallowed to total swallowing time using 3 different bolus consistencies.

RESULTS

No significant difference in oropharyngeal swallowing efficiency between myotomy vs no myotomy was seen at 6 months of follow-up regardless of bolus consistency.

CONCLUSIONS

In this prospective test of cricopharyngeal myotomy, the procedure fails to significantly improve dysphagia associated with head and neck cancer surgery. The efficacy of this surgical procedure in other disease entities should also be rigorously explored.

Interobserver agreement on normal swallowing physiology as viewed by videoendoscopy

This study examines the agreement of 2 observers in identifying selected normal oropharyngeal swallow events in the 1- and 5-ml swallows of 3 normal young adult males as identified by videoendoscopy at each of two endoscopic positions: (1) with the tip of the endoscope just at or below the tip of the uvula (high position), and (2) with the tip of the endoscope just below the tip of the epiglottis (low position), and thereby defines the needed focus for observer training in endoscopic assessment of swallowing. Overall, the more and less experienced examiners agreed on seeing or not seeing the onsets and terminations of the 12 events 83% of the time. Scope position affected observer agreement on several events while bolus volume did not.

Factors related to dropout in a study of head and neck cancer patients after surgery

The extent and nature of dropout was assessed in a longitudinal study whose objective was to define and quantify the functional effects of oral surgical resection and reconstruction on speech and swallowing function in patients with head and neck cancer. Of 150 patients who were enrolled to be followed up with speech and swallow assessments for 1 year after surgery, 113 (75%) dropped out and 37 (25%) returned to complete the study at the final 12-month evaluation point. In general, those completing the study had a smaller resection than the patients who dropped out before the 12-month evaluation. Fifty percent of the dropout was accounted for by medical reasons, 23% by administrative reasons, and 27% by patient-specific reasons (i.e., reasons known only to the patient). Analysis of the dropout categories revealed that higher cancer stage, larger volume of resection, and having a flap surgical closure versus a primary closure or skin graft increased a patient's chance of dropping out. A larger volume of resection was also related to an increased chance of being a patient-specific dropout. Patients who reported no or low alcohol usage had a greater chance of completing follow-up than being a patient-specific dropout.

Incidence and patient characteristics associated with silent aspiration in the acute care setting

Coughing is a physiologic response to aspiration in normal healthy individuals. However, there are published records that report no cough in response to aspiration (i.e., silent aspiration) in dysphagic patients. In this retrospective study, for more than 2 years in two acute care hospitals we examined frequency of the cough response in patients identified as aspirators by using videofluoroscopy. One thousand one hundred one patients underwent videofluorographic evaluation of their swallowing during this 2-year period; 469 aspirated; 276 were silently aspirating. Two hundred twenty-four of these silent aspirators aspirated once during a swallow and 52 silently aspirated more than once during a swallow. These two groups of patients were analyzed separately. Univariate (chi-square and Fisher's exact tests) and multivariate (logistic regression) analyses were conducted to assess the relationship of silent aspiration to age, gender, medical diagnosis, timing of aspiration, and etiology of aspiration. In univariate analysis, age (p < 0.001), gender (p < 0.004), and medical diagnosis (p = 0.05) were significantly associated with silent aspiration in the group who aspirated once during a swallow. No significant associations were seen in the group of patients who aspirated more than once during a swallow.

Normal swallowing physiology as viewed by videofluoroscopy and videoendoscopy

This study examines normal oropharyngeal swallow physiology in 8 young adult males with concurrent videofluoroscopy and videoendoscopy. Twelve swallows were examined for each subject, 3 swallows each of 1 and 5 ml of thin liquid at each of two endoscopic positions: (1) the tip of the endoscope just at or below the tip of the uvula (high position), and (2) the tip of the endoscope just below the tip of the epiglottis (low position). Results indicate that if the clinician is interested in laryngeal events occurring before and after swallow, videoendoscopy with the endoscope in the low position is the procedure of choice. To evaluate pharyngeal anatomy and/or the presence of food in the pharynx before or after swallow, either endoscopy with the endoscope in the high position or videofluoroscopy can be used. However, if the clinician is interested in pharyngeal physiology during swallow, videofluoroscopy is a better diagnostic procedure.

Surgical variables affecting speech in treated patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer

Postoperative speech function may be influenced by a number of treatment variables. The objective of this study was to examine the relationships among various treatment factors to determine the impact of these measures on speech function. Speech function was tested prospectively in 142 patients with surgically treated oral and oropharyngeal cancer 3 months after treatment. Each patient's speech was recorded during a 6- to 7-minute conversation and while performing a standard articulation test, producing speech outcome measures of percent correct consonant phonemes and percent conversational understandability. Correlational analyses were used to determine the relationships among the speech outcome measures and 14 treatment parameters. Speech function was mildly to moderately negatively correlated with most surgical resection variables, indicating that larger amounts of tissue resected were associated with worse speech function. Overall measures of conversational understandability and percent correct consonant phonemes were related to extent of oral tongue resection, floor of mouth resection, soft palate resection, and total volume of tissue resected. These relationships varied depending on the method of surgical closure. Method of surgical reconstruction had a profound impact on postoperative speech function 3 months after treatment and was an important factor in determining how oral tongue resection influenced articulation and intelligibility. The combination of closure type, percent oral tongue resected, and percent soft palate resected had the strongest relationship with overall speech function for patients with surgically treated oral and oropharyngeal cancer 3 months after treatment.

Functional results of primary closure vs flaps in oropharyngeal reconstruction: a prospective study of speech and swallowing

BACKGROUND

The preservation of speech and swallowing function is the primary goal when reconstructing soft tissue defects in the oral cavity or oropharynx. The type of reconstructive procedure used should be based on outcome data examining speech and swallowing function; yet, there is a paucity of such information.

OBJECTIVES

To present the results of a multi-institutional prospective study of speech and swallowing function before and after soft tissue reconstruction of the oral cavity and oropharynx, and to compare 3 methods of reconstruction with respect to speech and swallowing function: primary closure, distal myocutaneous flap, and microvascular free flap.

DESIGN

Prospective case-comparison study.

SETTING

Four leading head and neck cancer institutions.

PATIENTS

The patients were selected from a database of 284 patients treated at the different institutions. The patients were matched for the location of the oral cavity or oropharyngeal defect and the percentage of oral tongue and tongue base resection. Those patients who had previous speech and swallowing deficits and patients in whom postoperative fistulas or wound infections developed were excluded from the study.

METHODS

The patients underwent speech and swallowing evaluation preoperatively and 3 months after healing. This evaluation included videofluoroscopic studies of swallowing and tests of speech intelligibility and sentence articulation. Videofluoroscopy provided measures of swallowing efficiency and bolus movement. Liquid and paste consistencies were used in evaluating swallowing function.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The functional results of the reconstruction.

RESULTS

Patients who had primary closure were more efficient at swallowing liquids, had less pharyngeal residue, a longer oral transit time with paste, and higher conversational intelligibility than patients who underwent reconstruction with a distal flap. Compared with patients who underwent reconstruction with a free flap, those who had primary closure had more efficient swallowing of liquids, less pharyngeal residue, and shorter pharyngeal delay times with paste. No difference in the speech and swallowing function existed between patients treated with distal myocutaneous flaps and those treated with microvascular free flaps.

CONCLUSION

Contrary to the current theory of oral and oropharyngeal reconstruction, we found that the use of primary closure resulted in equal or better function than the use of flap reconstruction in patients with a comparable locus of resection and percentage of oral tongue and tongue base resection.

Speech and swallowing in irradiated and nonirradiated postsurgical oral cancer patients

The effect of radiation on speech and swallowing function was assessed for 18 patients surgically treated for oral and oropharyngeal cancer. Nine patients received surgical intervention and postoperative radiation therapy, and nine received surgery only. Patients were matched regarding percentage of oral tongue resected, percentage of tongue base resected, locus of resection, and method of reconstruction. Speech and swallowing function was assessed before and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery following a standardized protocol. Speech tasks included an audio recording of a brief conversation and of a standard articulation test; swallowing function was examined with videofluoroscopy. Statistical testing indicated that overall speech function did not differ between the irradiated and nonirradiated patients. Irradiated patients had significantly reduced oral and pharyngeal swallowing performance, specifically, longer oral transit times on paste boluses, lower oropharyngeal swallow efficiency, increased pharyngeal residue, and reduced cricopharyngeal opening duration. Impaired function may be the result of radiation effects such as edema, fibrosis, and reduced salivary flow. Increased use of tongue range-of-motion exercises during and after radiation treatment may reduce the formation of fibrotic tissue in the oral cavity and may improve pharyngeal clearance by maintaining adequate tongue base-to-pharyngeal wall contact.

Age and volume effects on liquid swallowing function in normal women

Understanding the nature of swallowing in persons without swallowing problems is a prerequisite to evaluating the nature and extent of dysphagia in persons with compromised swallowing. In order to determine how swallowing varies with age and with liquid bolus volume in women, we assessed 167 normal female swallowers videofluoroscopically and obtained multiple measures of swallowing function. The women in this study demonstrated a change in swallowing function with age, due primarily to an increase in pharyngeal transit and total duration of the motor response. The duration of closure and opening of valves in the upper aerodigestive tract also increased with age, and the duration of laryngeal elevation and hyoid movement peaked in the 60-79-year-old age groups. Bolus volume effects were quite consistent across most measures. As the bolus volume increased from 1 ml to 10 ml, transit times decreased and durations of valve closure and opening increased. The results of this study may be used to specify the relationship of swallowing function to age and liquid bolus volume in women, relationships that heretofore have been observed only in part and in smaller and more heterogeneous populations.

Light digital occlusion of the tracheostomy tube: a pilot study of effects on aspiration and biomechanics of the swallow

BACKGROUND

This study examined the effects of digital occlusion of the tracheostomy tube versus no occlusion on oropharyngeal swallowing in head and neck cancer patients.

METHODS

Eight treated head and neck cancer patients were studied, six of whom had undergone surgical treatment for oral or laryngeal cancer and two who had undergone high-dose chemotherapy and radiotherapy for laryngeal cancer. Videofluorographic studies of oropharyngeal swallowing were accomplished on 3-mL boluses of liquid in seven patients and 3-mL boluses of paste in three patients, first with the tracheostomy not occluded and then with it lightly digitally occluded by the patient. Videofluorographic studies of swallow were examined for observations of aspiration and residue. Biomechanical analysis of each liquid swallow was also completed.

RESULTS

Four of the seven patients aspirated on thin liquids with the tube unoccluded. Aspiration was eliminated with the tracheostomy digitally occluded in two of these four patients. One of the patients also aspirated on paste with the tube unoccluded, and the aspiration was eliminated with the tube occluded. A third patient who aspirated on thin liquid had no change when the tube was occluded, and one patient's swallow worsened with the tube occluded on liquid. There were significant changes in five measures of swallow biomechanics on liquids with the tube occluded: (1) duration of base of tongue contact to the posterior pharyngeal wall was reduced, (2) maximal laryngeal elevation increased, (3) and (4) laryngeal and hyoid elevation at the time of initial cricopharyngeal opening increased, and (5) onset of anterior movement of the posterior pharyngeal wall relative to the onset of cricopharyngeal opening began later.

CONCLUSION

Light digital occlusion of the tracheostomy tube appears to be a safe procedure, because most biomechanics of swallow are positively affected, perhaps because of the increased resistance provided by the closed trachea. However, not all patients received benefit from tube occlusion, indicating that each patient must be evaluated individually to determine whether or not tube occlusion improves their swallow.

Super-supraglottic swallow in irradiated head and neck cancer patients

BACKGROUND

After radiotherapy to the head and neck, many patients experience swallowing difficulties. Preliminary work indicates that these patients benefit from the super-supraglottic swallow maneuver.

METHODS

Lateral videofluoroscopic studies examined oropharyngeal swallowing in 9 patients who suffered from dysphagia after radiation to the head and neck. Each patient completed two swallows each of 1 mL or 3 mL liquid barium without a voluntary swallow maneuver and with the super-supraglottic swallow designed to close the entrance to the airway early. The videotape of each swallow was digitized and the location of pharyngeal structures marked throughout the swallow. Movement over time plots were generated to measure changes in structural movement resulting from the maneuver.

RESULTS

The super-supraglottic swallow resulted in changes in airway entrance closure and hyolaryngeal movement. One patient who aspirated without the maneuver stopped aspirating with the maneuver. Two others had aspiration reduced to a trace with the maneuver. Fewer swallowing disorders were observed with the maneuver.

CONCLUSION

The super-supraglottic swallow results in improved biomechanics of swallow in irradiated head and neck cancer patients.

Speech and swallowing rehabilitation for head and neck cancer patients

Head and neck cancer and its treatment frequently cause changes in both speech and swallowing, which affect the patient's quality of life and ability to function in society. The exact nature and severity of the post-treatment changes depend on the location of the tumor, the choice of treatment, and the availability and use of speech and swallowing therapy during the first 3 months after treatment. This paper reviews the literature on speech and swallowing problems in various types of treated head and neck cancer patients. Effective swallowing rehabilitation depends on the inclusion of a video-fluorographic assessment of the patient's oropharyngeal swallow in the post-treatment evaluation. Pilot data support the use of range of motion (ROM) exercises for the jaw, tongue, lips, and larynx in the first 3 months after oral or oropharyngeal ablative surgical procedures, as patients who perform ROM exercises on a regular basis exhibit significantly greater improvement in global measures of both speech and swallowing, as compared with patients who do not do these exercises.

Acoustic measurement of change in voice quality with treatment for chronic posterior laryngitis

Sixteen patients who had symptoms and signs of chronic posterior laryngitis were evaluated before, during, and after treatment with omeprazole and nocturnal antireflux precautions. Data were analyzed for patients who complained of some hoarseness, who had no smoking history, and who completed all of the voice recording protocol. The patients' voices were recorded before, during, and following treatment with omeprazole and nocturnal antireflux precautions. Voice quality was analyzed by perceptual analysis, and acoustic signal data were measured for jitter, shimmer, and signal-to-noise ratio. Measures of jitter, shimmer, and signal-to-noise ratio changed significantly with treatment of posterior laryngitis (p < .01 for change in each of the measures). Acoustic measures showed some trend of deterioration with cessation of treatment, although the overall improvement in acoustic measures of voice quality was still statistically significant after treatment with omeprazole was discontinued. Although perceived abnormality of voice increased and decreased with the magnitude of measured perturbation of the acoustic signal for some patients, the perceptual assessments were not highly correlated with acoustic measures for individual patients, and the perceptual analysis group data did not show a significant change with time during treatment, in contrast to the significance of change in acoustic measures. The data demonstrate that acoustic measures of jitter, shimmer, and signal-to-noise ratio improve significantly with antisecretory and antireflux treatment of chronic posterior laryngitis, and that for individual patients, these are changes that are detected by trained listeners, but not at statistically high levels of confidence.

Swallowing disorders in head and neck cancer patients treated with radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy

The nature of swallowing problems was examined in nine patients treated primarily with external-beam radiation and adjuvant chemotherapy for newly diagnosed tumors of the head and neck. All subjects underwent videofluorographic examination of their swallowing. Three analyses were completed, including the following: observations of motility disorders, residue, and aspiration; temporal analyses; and biomechanical analyses. Oropharyngeal swallow efficiency was calculated for the first swallow of each bolus. Swallow motility disorders were observed in both the oral and pharyngeal stages. Seven of the nine patients demonstrated reduced posterior tongue base movement toward the posterior pharyngeal wall and reduced laryngeal elevation during the swallow. Oropharyngeal swallow efficiency measures were significantly lower in the nine irradiated patients than in age-matched normal subjects. Between patients and normal subjects, significant differences were found in the measures of timing and distance of pharyngeal structural movements during the swallow, as well as in the measures of coordination during the swallow. Although treatment of head and neck cancer with external-beam radiation is designed to provide cancer cure and preserve organ functioning, oral and pharyngeal motility for swallow can become compromised if external-beam radiation treatment is provided to either the larynx or tongue base regions.

T stage and functional outcome in oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients

BACKGROUND

The locus and extent of resection and the type of reconstruction used in surgery are important joint determinants of functional outcome in oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients. However, prediction of functional outcome from broader factors such as clinical T stage and approximate locus of resection is important for the preoperative period when the extent of resection and the exact surgical reconstruction to be used may not be decided and preoperative counseling about potential functional outcomes is needed.

METHODS

Oropharyngeal swallow efficiency (OPSE) and conversational speech understandability (CU) were measured preoperatively and 3 months posthealing in 68 patients. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine whether clinical T stage and planned surgical locus were significantly related to these two functional measures, and discriminant analysis was used on the data obtained at 3 months to determine how well CU and liquid OPSE jointly relate to the T stages.

RESULTS

In patients with a planned oral tongue locus of resection, significant differences were found at 3 months posthealing on both CU and liquid OPSE between stages T1 -T2 and T3 and between T1-T2 and T4. In patients with a planned oropharynx locus of resection, significant differences were found only on CU at 3 months. These occurred between T1-T2 and T4 and between T3 and T4. Discriminant analysis classified into the correct T stages 70% of T1-T2 and 75% of T4 stage patients, but only 28% of T3 stage patients. However, the T3-stage patients who were misclassified as T4 had significantly larger mean percent of oral tongue resected than those T3 stage patients who were misclassified as T1-T2.

CONCLUSIONS

These results are useful for the preoperative counseling of patients with clinical T stages 1-2 and 4. The relationship between T stage and postsurgical function found here is stronger than reported by previous authors, but is still very general.

Longitudinal assessment of quality of life in laryngeal cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Although quality of life (QL) and performance status are important outcomes in head and neck (HN) cancer, there is little systematic inclusion of these parameters in treatment trials.

METHODS

Rate and recovery of function were evaluated over a 6-month period in 21 laryngeal cancer patients, 7 in each of 3 treatment groups: total laryngectomy (group 1), hemilaryngectomy (group 2), and radiotherapy only (group 3). Assessment included Performance Status Scale for Head and Neck Cancer Patients (PSS-HN: Diet, Speech, and Eating in Public subscales) and the FACT-HN, a multidimensional QL measure.

RESULTS

Groups differed in patterns of performance recovery over time in expected directions. Group 1 recovered most slowly, without achieving normal functioning by 6 months; most of group 2 returned to normal functioning by 3 months; group 3 showed little overall dysfunction. There was no difference in overall QL between groups or over time. Performance status was significantly correlated with the FACT head and neck subscale and somewhat with the Physical subscale. In contrast, ability to eat and/or speak was not associated with overall QL nor with any other specific QL dimension (eg, emotional or social well-being).

CONCLUSIONS

Results support the sensitivity and applicability of two site-specific performance/QL measures: PSS-HN and FACT-HN. Findings also emphasize the need to employ multidimensional tools to adequately evaluate the nonmedical outcomes in head and neck patients.

Functional outcome after surgery for prevention of pharyngospasms in tracheoesophageal speakers. Part II: Swallow characteristics

The swallowing function of 29 patients with primary tracheoesophageal puncture who received either a pharyngeal constrictor myotomy, a unilateral pharyngeal plexus neurectomy, or a unilateral pharyngeal plexus neurectomy with a small drainage myotomy limited to the cricopharyngeus was studied. Swallowing function data were collected on each patient at 3 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery using videofluoroscopy. Differences in swallowing function among the treatment groups were primarily the amounts and loci of oral and pharyngeal residues. The differing patterns of bolus residue may reflect the different mechanisms that were affected by the various procedures. Despite significant changes in some swallow measures, the patients did not complain of dysphagia. Oropharyngoesophageal swallow efficiency--a clinical measure that weighs the amount of bolus swallowed by total transit time--fell within normal limits for each patient group at each evaluation. This measure may be a better index of the patients' perceived normal swallow than the component variables of residue and transit times would suggest.

Functional outcome after surgery for prevention of pharyngospasms in tracheoesophageal speakers. Part I: Speech characteristics

The speech characteristics of 29 patients with primary tracheoesophageal puncture who received either a pharyngeal constrictor myotomy, a unilateral pharyngeal plexus neurectomy, or a unilateral pharyngeal plexus neurectomy with drainage myotomy limited to the cricopharyngeus were studied. All patients used a Blom-Singer low-pressure voice prosthesis. Audio recordings of each patient speaking with both the Blom-Singer tracheostoma valve and manual occlusion of the tracheostoma were recorded at 3 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery. The three surgical variations were equally effective at preventing pharyngospasms; only 1 patient (10%) in each group had some loss of fluency during the 12-month study period. Neurectomized patients produced significantly higher fundamental frequencies during reading than did patients in the other groups. Residual resting tone in the neurectomized pharyngoesophageal segment may contribute to more favorable speaking frequencies in this group.

Effects of a sour bolus on oropharyngeal swallowing measures in patients with neurogenic dysphagia

This study examines the effects of a sour bolus (50% lemon juice, 50% barium liquid) on pharyngeal swallow measures in two groups of patients with neurogenic dysphagia. Group 1 consisted of 19 patients who had suffered at least one stroke. Group 2 consisted of 8 patients with dysphagia related to other neurogenic etiologies. All patients were selected because they exhibited delays in the onset of the oral swallow and delays in triggering the pharyngeal swallow on boluses of 1 ml and 3 ml liquid barium during videofluoroscopy. Results showed significant improvement in oral onset of the swallow in both groups of patients and a significant reduction in pharyngeal swallow delay in Group 1 patients and in frequency of aspiration in Group 2 patients with the sour as compared to the non-sour boluses. Other selected swallow measures in both subject groups also improved with the sour bolus. Volume effects were present but not as consistently as in prior studies. Implications for swallow therapy are discussed.

Biomechanical analysis of the pharyngeal swallow in postsurgical patients with anterior tongue and floor of mouth resection and distal flap reconstruction

The purpose of this study was to examine changes in the biomechanics of pharyngeal swallow after surgery in eight patients (six men and two women) with anterior tongue and floor of mouth resections with distal flap reconstruction. Eight normal age-matched subjects were also studied. Swallowing performance was assessed following a standardized protocol with videofluoroscopy preoperatively and at 1 and 3 months postoperatively for the oral cancer patients. The normal subjects received a single videofluoroscopic study. Computer-assisted biomechanical analysis was used to mark the movements of specific oropharyngeal structures over time throughout the swallow of calibrated boluses. Statistical analyses revealed that tongue base, pharyngeal wall, hyoid, laryngeal, and cricopharyngeal movements during the swallow were altered significantly after surgery for the cancer patients. Some oropharyngeal structural movements differed from those of normal control subjects before surgery. In this study, biomechanical measures indicated that there was recovery in some aspects of the pharyngeal swallow in this patient group. The duration of tongue base to pharyngeal wall contact, which was significantly reduced preoperatively and at 1 month after surgery, increased significantly to within normal levels by the 3-month postoperative evaluation. Duration of laryngeal closure and the onset of laryngeal closure relative to cricopharyngeal opening also improved significantly to within normal levels by the 3-month postoperative evaluation.

Mechanisms of recovery of swallow after supraglottic laryngectomy

This study examines oropharyngeal swallow disorders and measures of pharyngeal and laryngeal movement during deglutition from videofluorographic studies of oropharyngeal swallow in 9 patients who had undergone supraglottic laryngectomy and 9 age-matched normal subjects. The swallows of surgical patients were examined at 2 weeks and 3 months postoperatively. Two critical factors in recovery of swallowing were identified: (a) airway closure at the laryngeal entrance, that is, the space between the arytenoid cartilage and the base of the tongue, and (b) the movement of the tongue base to make complete contact with the posterior pharyngeal wall. When patients achieved these two functions, they returned to normal swallowing. The duration of tongue base contact to the posterior pharyngeal wall and extent of anterior movement of the arytenoid increased significantly from 2 weeks to 3 months in the surgical patients. At 2 weeks postsurgery, patients who had undergone supraglottic laryngectomy exhibited significantly shorter airway closure and tongue base to pharyngeal wall contact, reduced laryngeal elevation, increased width of cricopharyngeal (CP) opening, and later onset of airway closure and tongue base movement than normal subjects. These significant differences remained at 3 months postoperatively, although swallow measures were moving toward normal in the patients who had undergone supraglottic laryngectomy. Comparison of patients not eating at 2 weeks with patients at the time of first eating revealed significantly longer duration of tongue base contact to the pharyngeal wall, longer duration of airway closure, and greater movement of the arytenoid in patients who were eating. Results indicate that the focus of swallowing therapy after supraglottic laryngectomy should be on improvement of posterior movement of the tongue base and anterior tilting of the arytenoid to close the airway entrance and improve bolus propulsion (in the case of the tongue base).