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Nutritional challenges in head and neck cancer

Lookup NU author(s): Emerita Professor Janet WilsonORCiD

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Abstract

In head and neck cancer patients malnutrition impacts on quality of life, complications of therapy and also prognosis, in part via altered immunity. Dysphagia assessment is extremely valuable but more work is needed to optimize the rehabilitation of the incompetent swallow in this particular patient group. Proper nutritional assessment is mandatory pre-/peri-/post-treatment. The range and palatability of nutritional supplements has greatly increased over the past few years. Many of the early problems of percutaneous gastrostomy feeding have been addressed but complication rates still remain high. As accelerated radiotherapy and chemoradiation techniques become more widely advocated, nutrition is likely to become increasingly important. The authorship includes two otolaryngologists, a nutritionist and a speech and language therapist with an interest in head and neck dysphagia, thereby aiming to provide a broad perspective of these issues. However, there appears to be a lack of prospective evaluation of many aspects of dysphagia/nutrition in head and neck cancer, which needs to be addressed.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Grobbelaar EJ, Owen S, Torrance AD, Wilson JA

Publication type: Review

Publication status: Published

Journal: Clinical Otolaryngology

Year: 2004

Volume: 29

Issue: 4

Pages: 307-313

ISSN (print): 1749-4478

ISSN (electronic): 1749-4486

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2273.2004.00850.x

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2273.2004.00850.x


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