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.
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.
Authors: Margaret Patterson; Rowena Brain; Ronald Chin; David Veivers; Michael Back; Andrew Wignall; Thomas Eade Journal: Dysphagia Date: 2014-08-13 Impact factor: 3.438
Authors: Raymond Fong; Anna F Rumbach; Elizabeth C Ward; Sebastian H Doeltgen; Nikie Sun; Raymond Tsang Journal: Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol Date: 2021-08-27
Authors: Dai Pu; Victor H F Lee; Karen M K Chan; Margaret T Y Yuen; Harry Quon; Raymond K Y Tsang Journal: Dysphagia Date: 2021-04-28 Impact factor: 2.733