Zhuo-Shan Huang1, Wei-Liang Chen2, Zhi-Quan Huang3, Zhao-Hui Yang3. 1. Attending, Department of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. 2. Professor and Director, Department of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: drchen@vip.163.com. 3. Assistant Professor, Department of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To define factors influencing postoperative aspiration in tongue cancer patients and to analyze the characteristics of dysphagia before and after surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 112 tongue cancer patients participated in this work. Videofluoroscopic swallowing studies were performed in all patients before and after surgery. A Penetration-Aspiration Scale score of 3 or greater was defined as an aspiration risk. Qualitative data were collected on a frame-by-frame basis from each videofluoroscopic swallowing study and analyzed. RESULTS: Smoking (58.14%, P < .01), tongue resection greater than 50% (38.71%, P < .05), and advanced tumor stage (49.18%, P < .01) were strong risk factors for aspiration. High incidences of inadequate tongue movement, delayed oral transit time, reduced hyoid bone elevation, poor aspiration or penetration, vallecula epiglottica, and residual material in the pyriform sinuses were evident after surgery (all P < .001). The Penetration-Aspiration Scale score was significantly higher after surgery than before surgery. The incidence of silent aspiration increased to 6.25% postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking, larger tongue resection, and advanced tumor stage were strong risk factors for postoperative aspiration and dysphagia complications in tongue cancer patients. The aspiration rate was higher after surgery. Further studies should focus on the prevention and early treatment of dysphagia, especially postoperative aspiration, in tongue cancer patients.
PURPOSE: To define factors influencing postoperative aspiration in tongue cancerpatients and to analyze the characteristics of dysphagia before and after surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 112 tongue cancerpatients participated in this work. Videofluoroscopic swallowing studies were performed in all patients before and after surgery. A Penetration-Aspiration Scale score of 3 or greater was defined as an aspiration risk. Qualitative data were collected on a frame-by-frame basis from each videofluoroscopic swallowing study and analyzed. RESULTS: Smoking (58.14%, P < .01), tongue resection greater than 50% (38.71%, P < .05), and advanced tumor stage (49.18%, P < .01) were strong risk factors for aspiration. High incidences of inadequate tongue movement, delayed oral transit time, reduced hyoid bone elevation, poor aspiration or penetration, vallecula epiglottica, and residual material in the pyriform sinuses were evident after surgery (all P < .001). The Penetration-Aspiration Scale score was significantly higher after surgery than before surgery. The incidence of silent aspiration increased to 6.25% postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking, larger tongue resection, and advanced tumor stage were strong risk factors for postoperative aspiration and dysphagia complications in tongue cancerpatients. The aspiration rate was higher after surgery. Further studies should focus on the prevention and early treatment of dysphagia, especially postoperative aspiration, in tongue cancerpatients.
Authors: Edoardo Brauner; Valentino Valentini; Umberto Romeo; Marco Cantore; Federico Laudoni; Oriana Rajabtork Zadeh; Valeria Formisano; Andrea Cassoni; Marco Della Monaca; Andrea Battisti; Silvia Mezi; Alessio Cirillo; Francesca De Felice; Andrea Botticelli; Vincenzo Tombolini; Marco De Vincentiis; Andrea Colizza; Gianluca Tenore; Antonella Polimeni; Stefano Di Carlo Journal: Diagnostics (Basel) Date: 2022-08-02