Enteral nutrition support and treatment toxicities in patients with head and neck cancer receiving definitive or adjuvant helical intensity-modulated radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy.

Background: Enteral nutrition (EN) is often required in patients with head and neck cancer (HNSCC); however, initiation criteria is limited or inconsistent. This study aimed to describe the relationship of treatment toxicities and requirement for EN and investigate toxicity and baseline characteristics association with EN duration.

Methods: Acute toxicities and baseline characteristics were collected from patients with HNSCC (n = 110) undergoing H-IMRT.

Evaluation of a speech pathology service delivery model for patients at low dysphagia risk during radiotherapy for HNC.

Purpose: There are no evidence-based guidelines informing which patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) require regular speech pathology (SP) support during radiation treatment (RT). Hence, some services use a "one-size-fits-all" model, potentially over-servicing those patients at low risk for dysphagia. This study evaluated the clinical safety and efficiency of an interdisciplinary service model for patients identified prospectively as "low risk" for dysphagia during RT.

Radiotherapy for cutaneous head and neck cancer and parotid tumours: a prospective investigation of treatment-related acute swallowing and toxicity patterns.

Purpose: Reports of acute treatment-related dysphagia and toxicities for patients with parotid tumours or cutaneous head and neck cancer (HNC) are limited. This study aimed to describe the severity and timing of dysphagia and related toxicities experienced during radiotherapy for cutaneous HNC and parotid tumours, to inform the nature of future speech pathology (SP) service models required during treatment.

Methods: Prospective study of 32 patients with parotid tumours and 36 with cutaneous HNC undergoing curative non-surgical management.

Helical intensity-modulated radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: A prospective investigation of acute swallowing and toxicity patterns.

Background: Conformal radiotherapy modalities may minimize treatment toxicities. The purpose of this study was to document the extent and timing of dysphagia and related toxicities during helical intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with chemotherapy for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Methods: We conducted a prospective study of 76 patients with oropharyngeal SCC undergoing helical IMRT with chemotherapy.

Patterns of dysphagia and acute toxicities in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing helical IMRT±concurrent chemotherapy.

Background: There is limited prospective data reporting the extent of treatment related toxicities associated with helical Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (H-IMRT) for head and neck cancer (HNC). The study aim was to investigate severity, peak incidence and recovery patterns of dysphagia and related toxicities in patients undergoing H-IMRT±chemotherapy to examine when patients are experiencing symptoms requiring supportive clinical care.

Methods: Prospective study of 212 patients undergoing H-IMRT.