Evaluation of Swallowing Profile Function in Head and Neck Cancer Patients before and after treatment: A Prospective Study from a Tertiary Care Center in Andhra Pradesh, India
Radhika Doppalapudi, Arvind MuthukrishnanBackground:
Swallowing dysfunction is a common morbidity in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) and often aggravated by cancer therapy.
Objective:
To assess changes in swallowing function before and after radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy in patients with HNC and to identify its associated factors.
Methods:
This prospective observational study included 90 HNC patients treated with radiotherapy alone or concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Swallowing function was assessed using the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), and overall functional status was evaluated using the Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) at baseline and at six weeks after completion of therapy. Wilcoxon signed rank test, Chi-square test, and Spearman’s rank correlation analysis were used as tests of significance.
Results:
Mean FOIS scores declined significantly from 5.3 ± 1.6 at baseline to 3.8 ± 1.7 post-treatment. Mean KPS scores also decreased significantly following treatment (82.4 ± 8.9 vs. 71.6 ± 10.3). Advanced tumor stage and concurrent chemoradiotherapy were associated with poor post-treatment swallowing outcomes. Post-treatment FOIS correlated positively with post-treatment KPS.
Conclusion:
Swallowing dysfunction worsens significantly following cancer therapy. Routine swallowing assessment and early rehabilitation are essential to improve functional outcomes and quality of life.