Takeshi Shinozaki1, Ryuichi Hayashi2, Masakazu Miyazaki2, Toshifumi Tomioka2, Sadamoto Zenda3, Makoto Tahara4, Tetsuo Akimoto3. 1. Department of Head and Neck Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa tashinoz@east.ncc.go.jp. 2. Department of Head and Neck Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa. 3. Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa. 4. Department of Head and Neck Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Post-operative concurrent chemoradiotherapy significantly improves the rates of locoregional control and disease-free survival in high-risk patients but has significant adverse effects. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and opioid-based pain control increase treatment completion rates but can result in dysphagia. METHODS: The rate and duration of use of prophylactically placed percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomies were evaluated in 43 patients who underwent post-operative radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy from April 2007 through March 2010. All patients completed treatment and received 60 Gy or more of radiotherapy. RESULTS: Thirty four of 43 patients (79.1%) used percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomies, which could later be removed in 25 of 34 patients. The median period of use was 108 days. Only one disease-free patient was permanently dependent on percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy feeding. The frequency of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy use among patients with oral, oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer was 91.7, 100 and 54.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy use is not required in patients receiving post-operative chemoradiotherapy and will not lead to dysphagia.
OBJECTIVE: Post-operative concurrent chemoradiotherapy significantly improves the rates of locoregional control and disease-free survival in high-risk patients but has significant adverse effects. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and opioid-based pain control increase treatment completion rates but can result in dysphagia. METHODS: The rate and duration of use of prophylactically placed percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomies were evaluated in 43 patients who underwent post-operative radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy from April 2007 through March 2010. All patients completed treatment and received 60 Gy or more of radiotherapy. RESULTS: Thirty four of 43 patients (79.1%) used percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomies, which could later be removed in 25 of 34 patients. The median period of use was 108 days. Only one disease-free patient was permanently dependent on percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy feeding. The frequency of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy use among patients with oral, oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer was 91.7, 100 and 54.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy use is not required in patients receiving post-operative chemoradiotherapy and will not lead to dysphagia.