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Strahlentherapie und Onkologie
Published in: Strahlentherapie und Onkologie 6/2019

01-06-2019 | Radiotherapy | Original Article

Radiotherapy-induced dysphagia and its impact on quality of life in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Authors: Honghong Li, MD, Liting Li, MD, Xiaolong Huang, MD, Yi Li, PhD, Tangjie Zou, BS, Xiaohuang Zhuo, MD, Yan Chen, BS, Yimin Liu, PhD, Yamei Tang, PhD

Published in: Strahlentherapie und Onkologie | Issue 6/2019

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Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the swallowing status and its impact on quality of life (QOL) in patients who underwent radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods

In this study, 334 patients with NPC who underwent radiotherapy were reviewed. Clinical characteristics, videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSSs), and scores of the World Health Organization quality of life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) were retrospectively analyzed for all patients.

Results

In this study, 143 of 334 (42.8%) patients showed dysphagia. The nodular stage N3 of NPC, neoadjuvant and concurrent chemotherapy were clinical predictors for dysphagia. VFSS of patients with dysphagia showed a high incidence of vallecular residue (100%), apraxia (99%), premature bolus loss (98%), bolus formation (98%), pyriform sinus residue (95%), and mastication (94%). Moreover, WHOQOL-BREF scores for the physical health, psychological, and environment domains were lower of the dysphagia group than those of the control group (P < 0.01). Videofluoroscopic dysphagia scale scores showed significant negative correlations with scores for the physical health (R = −0.66, P < 0.01), psychological (R = −0.70, P < 0.01), social relationships (R = −0.56, P < 0.01), and environment (R = −0.61, P < 0.01) domains of WHOQOL-BREF.

Conclusions

Radiotherapy-induced dysphagia is common in NPC patients and is correlated with poor quality of life. Patients, caregivers, and clinical physicians should be aware of these adverse effects and provide timely treatment for radiotherapy-induced dysphagia in collaboration with cross-disciplinary colleagues.
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Metadata
Title
Radiotherapy-induced dysphagia and its impact on quality of life in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors
Honghong Li, MD
Liting Li, MD
Xiaolong Huang, MD
Yi Li, PhD
Tangjie Zou, BS
Xiaohuang Zhuo, MD
Yan Chen, BS
Yimin Liu, PhD
Yamei Tang, PhD
Publication date
01-06-2019
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Strahlentherapie und Onkologie / Issue 6/2019
Print ISSN: 0179-7158
Electronic ISSN: 1439-099X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00066-018-01421-6

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