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Dysphagia, trismus and speech impairment following radiation-based treatment for advanced stage oropharyngeal carcinoma: a one-year prospective evaluation.
- Source :
- European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology; Feb2022, Vol. 279 Issue 2, p1003-1027, 25p
- Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- Objective: The objective was to assess swallowing, mouth opening and speech function during the first year after radiation-based treatment (RT(+)) after introduction of a dedicated preventive rehabilitation program for stage III–IV oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC). Methods: Swallowing, mouth opening and speech function were collected before and at six- and twelve-month follow-up after RT(+) for OPC as part of ongoing prospective assessments by speech-language pathologists. Results: Objective and patient-perceived function deteriorated until 6 months and improved until 12 months after treatment, but did not return to baseline levels with 25%, 20% and 58% of the patients with objective dysphagia, trismus and speech problems, respectively. Feeding tube dependency and pneumonia prevalence was low. Conclusion: Despite successful implementation, a substantial proportion of patients still experience functional limitations after RT(+) for OPC, suggesting room for improvement of the current rehabilitation program. Pretreatment sarcopenia seems associated with worse functional outcomes and might be a relevant new target for rehabilitation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- TRISMUS
DEGLUTITION disorders
SPEECH therapists
TREATMENT programs
CARCINOMA
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 09374477
- Volume :
- 279
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 154922377
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-021-06870-x