TY - JOUR
T1 - Current assessment and treatment strategies of dysphagia in head and neck cancer patients
T2 - A systematic review of the 2012/13 literature
AU - Kraaijenga, S. A.C.
AU - Van Der Molen, L.
AU - Van Den Brekel, M. W.M.
AU - Hilgers, F. J.M.
PY - 2014/6
Y1 - 2014/6
N2 - Purpose of review Dysphagia, or swallowing impairment, is a serious sequel of head and neck cancer (HNC) and its treatment. This review focuses on the rapidly growing literature published during the past 2 years about the current assessment and treatment strategies of dysphagia in HNC patients. Recent findings Functional swallowing assessment has become standard of care in many HNC centers, to prevent or identify (silent) aspiration, to optimize functional outcomes, and to determine the appropriate rehabilitation strategy. Also preventive swallowing exercises are considered more and more in the pretreatment setting with promising results on (pharyngeal) swallowing function. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding type, frequency, or intensity of the exercises. Furthermore, long-term follow-up of swallowing function might be necessary, given the potential for long-term sequels following HNC treatment. Summary Regarding dysphagia evaluation, there is still a lack of a uniform 'gold-standard' for both assessment and treatment strategies. More high-quality data, adequately controlled, adequately powered and randomized, on prophylactic and therapeutic swallowing exercises are needed, with longer follow-up and better adherence to treatment, for better understanding the effects of chemo and radiotherapy dosage, and of frequency, timing and duration of treatment, to improve swallowing function and optimize quality of life.
AB - Purpose of review Dysphagia, or swallowing impairment, is a serious sequel of head and neck cancer (HNC) and its treatment. This review focuses on the rapidly growing literature published during the past 2 years about the current assessment and treatment strategies of dysphagia in HNC patients. Recent findings Functional swallowing assessment has become standard of care in many HNC centers, to prevent or identify (silent) aspiration, to optimize functional outcomes, and to determine the appropriate rehabilitation strategy. Also preventive swallowing exercises are considered more and more in the pretreatment setting with promising results on (pharyngeal) swallowing function. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding type, frequency, or intensity of the exercises. Furthermore, long-term follow-up of swallowing function might be necessary, given the potential for long-term sequels following HNC treatment. Summary Regarding dysphagia evaluation, there is still a lack of a uniform 'gold-standard' for both assessment and treatment strategies. More high-quality data, adequately controlled, adequately powered and randomized, on prophylactic and therapeutic swallowing exercises are needed, with longer follow-up and better adherence to treatment, for better understanding the effects of chemo and radiotherapy dosage, and of frequency, timing and duration of treatment, to improve swallowing function and optimize quality of life.
KW - Assessment
KW - Dysphagia
KW - Functional outcomes
KW - Head and neck cancer
KW - Quality of life
KW - Treatment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84904545438&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1097/SPC.0000000000000050
DO - https://doi.org/10.1097/SPC.0000000000000050
M3 - Review article
C2 - 24743298
SN - 1751-4258
VL - 8
SP - 152
EP - 163
JO - Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care
JF - Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care
IS - 2
ER -