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Background: Dysphagia may occur in up to 44% of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) treated with radiation therapy and up to 84% of patients treated with surgery. To test the extent of dysphagia, the 100 mL water swallow test (WST) was developed. In this study, reliability of the 100 mL WST was determined in patients with HNC and healthy subjects., Methods: Thirty-three patients and 40 healthy subjects performed the WST twice on the same day. To assess reliability, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC 2,1 ), standard error of measurement, smallest detectable change, and limits of agreement were calculated., Results: Good to excellent correlations were found for patients with HNC (number of swallows; ICC = 0.923, duration; ICC = 0.893), and excellent correlations for healthy subjects (number of swallows; ICC = 0.950, duration; ICC = 0.916)., Conclusion: The 100 mL WST has a good to excellent reliability in patients with HNC and healthy subjects., (© 2021 The Authors. Head & Neck published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Chewing ability is often compromised in patients with oral cancer. The aim of this study was to identify which factors affect masticatory performance in these patients., Methods: Patients with primary oral cancer were assessed for up to 5 years after primary treatment. Healthy controls were assessed once. A mixed-model analysis was performed, with masticatory performance as outcome measure., Results: A total of 123 patients were included in the study. Factors positively associated with masticatory performance were number of occlusal units (OU), having functional dentures, and maximum mouth opening (MMO). The impact of tumor location and maximum bite force (MBF) differed per assessment moment. Masticatory performance declined for up to 1 year but recovered at 5 years after treatment., Conclusion: Masticatory performance in patients treated for oral cancer is affected by MBF, MMO, number of OU, and dental status. These should be the focus of posttreatment therapy., (© 2018 The Authors. Head & Neck published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: The timing of placement as well as the functional benefit of interforaminal implants in edentulous patients treated for oral cancer is unclear., Methods: Fifty-six patients were recruited at 2 institutions. In 1 institution, interforaminal implants were placed during ablative surgery, the other institution used conventional prosthodontics with optional placement of implants postsurgery (postponed-placement). Masticatory performance, bite force, and subjective masticatory function were assessed before and 6 months, 1 year, and 5 years after surgery., Results: Implant-retained overdentures (IODs) demonstrated the highest bite force and the least problems with solid food and food choice. Masticatory performance was equal for IODs and conventional dentures. After 5 years, IODs from patients in the during-ablative-surgery cohort tend to have higher bite force and masticatory performance than those from patients in the postponed-placement cohort., Conclusion: IODs produce the highest overall masticatory function. Implant placement during ablative surgery seems to be functionally beneficial. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E2103-E2111, 2016., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Patients with oral cancer can develop restricted mouth opening (trismus) because of the oncologic treatment., Methods: Maximum mouth opening (MMO) was measured in 143 patients shortly before treatment and 0, 6, and 12 months posttreatment, and the results were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model., Results: In every patient, MMO decreased after treatment. The patients who underwent surgery, recovered partially by 6 and 12 months after treatment, whereas the patients who received both surgery and radiotherapy or primary radiotherapy did not recover. Tumor location, tumor size, and alcohol consumption had independent effects on MMO. Having trismus (MMO <35 mm) 1 year after treatment was associated most strongly with pretreatment MMO, receiving both surgery and radiotherapy, and maxillary or mandibular tumor involvement., Conclusion: Postoperative radiotherapy and maxillary or mandibular tumor involvement are the highest contributing risk factors to decreasing MMO and the subsequent development of trismus after oral cancer treatment., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Neck and shoulder complaints can be a direct result of a neck dissection., Methods: Maximal active lateral flexion of the neck, forward flexion and abduction of the shoulder, and self-perceived function were determined in 145 patients treated for oral cancer., Results: No short-term influence of radiotherapy was found on measured range of motion and self-perceived neck and shoulder function (p > .05). One year after a bilateral neck dissection, patients showed deteriorated lateral flexion of the neck, whereas patients treated with a unilateral modified radical neck dissection still reported pain during neck movements. Maximal forward flexion of the shoulder recovered to the level of healthy controls, but maximal abduction was still reduced in all patients., Conclusions: Neck dissection, tumor site, and extensive reconstruction are related to deterioration of shoulder function shortly after intervention. Maximal active shoulder abduction was affected most., (Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: People confronted with oral cancer run a high risk of deteriorated masticatory performance. Reduced masticatory function may affect quality of life and food choice. An altered food choice may result in lower intakes for key nutrients and weight loss., Methods: Dental state, bite force, and masticatory performance were determined in a group of 45 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and/or floor of mouth. Measurements were performed before surgery and at various moments after surgery and/or radiotherapy., Results: Surgical intervention had a large negative impact on oral function. Radiotherapy further worsened oral function. Also, the recovery of oral function 1 year after surgery was less prominent for the surgery-radiotherapy group than for the surgery group., Conclusion: Objective determination of oral function 1 year after surgery showed that patients treated for malignancies in the tongue and/or floor of mouth had significantly deteriorated masticatory performance, bite force, and dental state., (Copyright © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)