Chang YC, Chen SY, Ting LL, Peng SSF, Wang TC, Wang TG. A 2-year follow-up of swallowing function after radiation therapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2011;
92:1814-9. [PMID:
21840500 DOI:
10.1016/j.apmr.2011.06.008]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2011] [Accepted: 06/10/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate over a 2-year period the serial swallowing function of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after completing radiotherapy (RT).
DESIGN
Prospective longitudinal follow-up.
SETTING
University hospital.
PARTICIPANTS
Patients with NPC (N=76) referred for RT: 53 of them at 1 year after RT, and 23 at 2 years after RT.
INTERVENTIONS
Not applicable.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Participants completed a questionnaire and had a video-recorded fluoroscopic swallowing study before RT and 1 month, 1 year, and 2 years after RT.
RESULTS
The highest incidence of dysphagia symptoms and retropharyngeal soft tissue swelling occurred in the first month after RT and decreased over time. Pharyngeal transit time was prolonged continuously up to 1 year after RT. Epiglottic vallecular stasis and pharyngeal mucosal coating were worst in the first month after RT and stable afterwards. Aspiration was uncommon during the first 2 years after RT.
CONCLUSIONS
At a 2-year follow-up after RT, patients with NPC had a progressively increasing pharyngeal transit time, although the subjectively identified symptoms of dysphagia decreased after the first month after RT.
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