The impact of time after radiation treatment on dysphagia in patients with head and neck cancer enrolled in a swallowing therapy program.

BACKGROUND: Swallowing dysfunction after radiotherapy (RT) for head and neck cancer can be devastating. A randomized control trial compared swallow exercises versus exercise plus neuromuscular electrical stimulation therapy and found no overall difference in outcomes. METHODS: Quality of life (QOL), diet, and swallowing variables collected at discrete intervals on 117 patients were reanalyzed to test the hypothesis that shorter time between the completion of radiotherapy and beginning of the swallowing therapy program yielded improved outcomes. RESULTS: At baseline, subjects < 1 year post radiation had significantly better function than subjects >2 years post RT in several measures. Over the therapy program, the early group showed significant improvement in diet and QOL. Swallowing physiologic variables showed no difference between groups. CONCLUSION: Beginning a swallowing therapy program within 1 year of completion of radiotherapy demonstrates more consistent improvement in QOL and diet performance compared to later periods.

Evaluation of prophylaxis treatment of Candida in alaryngeal patients with tracheoesophageal voice prostheses.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of nystatin and Biotène(®) mouthwash Oral Rinse for controlling Candida in total laryngectomy (TL) patients with a tracheosophageal voice prosthesis (TEP) because Biotène(®) mouthwash Oral Rinse is a less costly alternative to nystatin and requires less adherence time. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized, unblinded, crossover trial. METHODS: Twenty-one TL patients were randomized to receive nystatin followed by Biotène(®) mouthwash Oral Rinse, or the reverse order, after a basic oral-care phase (i.e., brushing teeth, cleaning dentures). A Provox(®) 2, 22.5 French TEP, which is an indwelling silicone voice prosthesis, was placed at the beginning of each phase. Patients were provided with oral care instructions at randomization and medication-specific instructions with each treatment's initiation. TEPs were processed and evaluated for Candida growth as colony-forming units (CFUs). Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used for comparisons between treatments. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were available for comparisons of Candida counts (6 received nystatin; 9 received Biotène(®) mouthwash first). Overall, the median log10 (CFUs) remained high regardless of treatment (no medication: 8.9; nystatin: 8.7; Biotène(®) mouthwash: 8.4). However, the median counts for both nystatin and Biotène(®) mouthwash Oral Rinse were lower than those for no medication (difference [Δ]:-0.9 and -0.3, respectively), although only nystatin was significantly lower (P = 0.02). There was no significant difference between the two treatments (P = 0.22). Overall, median medication-adherence was high (97%), and Biotène(®) mouthwash adherence was significantly higher than that of nystatin (Δ: 7.6%; P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Nystatin and Biotène(®) mouthwash Oral Rinse had similar CFU levels, with nystatin showing a significant improvement over usual oral care. Biotène(®) mouthwash is a less costly alternative to nystatin, with a less complex treatment protocol that might make it preferable to patients and clinicians. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1b

Pharyngocutaneous fistula after total laryngectomy: a single-institution experience, 2001-2012.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of and risk factors for pharyngocutaneous fistula in patients undergoing total laryngectomy at a single institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 59 patients undergoing primary or salvage total laryngectomy at our institution from 2001 to 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Data collected included patient, tumor and treatment characteristics, and surgical technique. Risk factors were analyzed for association with pharyngocutaneous fistula formation. RESULTS: Twenty patients (34%) developed fistulas. Preoperative tracheostomy (OR 4.1; 95% CI 1.3-13 [p=0.02]) and low postoperative hemoglobin (OR 9.1; 95% CI 1.1-78 [p=0.04]) were associated with fistula development. Regarding surgical technique, primary sutured closure of the total laryngectomy defect had the lowest fistula rate (11%). In comparison, primary stapled closure and pectoralis onlay flap over primary closure had nonsignificantly increased fistula rates (43%, OR 6.0; 95% CI 1.0-37.3 [p=0.06] and 25%, OR 2.7; 95% CI 0.4-23.9 [p=0.38], respectively). Pectoralis flap incorporated into the suture line had a significantly increased fistula rate (50%, OR 7.1; 95% CI 1.4-46 [p=0.02]). After stratification for salvage status, patient comorbidities were associated with fistula in non-salvage cases whereas disease-related characteristics were associated with fistula in salvage cases. Fistula development was associated with increased length of hospital stay (p<0.001) and increased time before oral diet initiation (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pharyngocutaneous fistula is a common complication of total laryngectomy. Preoperative tracheostomy, postoperative hemoglobin, and surgical technique are important in determining the risk of fistula.

Multidisciplinary service utilization pattern by advanced head and neck cancer patients: a single institution study.

Purpose. To analyze the patterns and associations of adjunctive service visits by head and neck cancer patients receiving primary, concurrent chemoradiation therapy. Methods. Retrospective chart review of patients receiving adjunctive support during a uniform chemoradiation regimen for stages III-IV head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Univariate and multivariate models for each outcome were obtained from simple and multivariate linear regression analyses. Results. Fifty-two consecutive patients were assessed. Female gender, single marital status, and nonprivate insurance were factors associated with an increased number of social work visits. In a multivariate analysis, female gender and marital status were related to increased social work services. Female gender and stage IV disease were significant for increased nursing visits. In a multivariate analysis for nursing visits, living greater than 20 miles between home and hospital was a negative predictive factor. Conclusion. Treatment of advanced stage head and neck cancer with concurrent chemoradiation warrants a multidisciplinary approach. Female gender, single marital status, and stage IV disease were correlated with increased utilization of social work and nursing services. Distance over 20 miles from the center was a negative factor. This information may help guide the treatment team to allocate resources for the comprehensive care of patients.

Factors associated with pharyngoesophageal stricture in patients treated with concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to elucidate factors associated with pharyngoesophageal strictures after treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients receiving cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy combined with concurrent hyperfractionated radiation therapy for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. RESULTS: Strictures developed in 13 of 67 patients (19%). Strictures were associated with tumor location (tonsil vs base of tongue; p = .03), neck dissection after completion of therapy (p = .03), and the duration of treatment-induced mucositis (weeks with mucositis grade ≥2; National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Toxicity Criteria; p < .001). Age, sex, race, tumor stage, nodal stage, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage, human papillomavirus (HPV) status, smoking, radiation dose, maximum severity of mucositis, amifostine use, and pretreatment swallow dysfunction were not significantly associated with stricture. In multivariate analysis, only duration of mucositis, after controlling for age, sex, and tumor location, remained highly significant (p < .01). CONCLUSION: The duration of treatment-related mucositis is an independent risk factor for stricture formation in patients with oropharyngeal SCC treated with concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Prognostic significance of human papillomavirus in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The human papillomavirus (HPV) has been identified as a causative factor in 20% to 25% of all head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Ongoing research suggests that the presence of HPV DNA in HNSCC predicts a positive prognosis with respect to disease-free and overall survival. However, most studies have been limited by the heterogeneity in treatment regimens and/or anatomic subsites of tumor origin. In this study, we correlate clinical outcomes with HPV status for patients with oropharyngeal carcinomas who were uniformly treated with a concurrent chemoradiation treatment protocol. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. METHODS: Demographic and clinicopathologic parameters, including age at diagnosis, gender, race, smoking and alcohol history, tumor stage and grade, locoregional recurrence, metastatic spread, recurrence-free survival, overall survival and disease-specific death, were obtained from medical charts and established databases. These parameters were correlated with HPV status of the tumors established by in situ hybridization analysis. RESULTS: HPV positivity correlated with improved clinical outcomes regarding locoregional control (P = .042), recurrence-free survival (P = .009), overall survival (P = .017), and disease-specific death (P = .09). Advanced T stage was a significant risk factor for recurrence and death independent of HPV status. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma uniformly treated with chemoradiation, the presence of HPV is a favorable prognostic indicator with respect to recurrence and overall survival. However, advanced T stage was an independent risk factor for recurrence and death that can to some degree offset this benefit.