Predicting Swallowing Outcomes from Objective Videofluoroscopic Timing and Displacement Measures in Head and Neck Cancer Patients.

Radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy compromises swallowing efficiency and safety in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). The resulting dysphagia leads to overall morbidity, with altered diets, reduced nutritional intake, reduced quality of life, and potential interruption of curative cancer treatment. Despite well-documented radiation-related changes in swallowing physiology, scarce research exists on the potential clinical value for measurements of swallowing timing and displacement in this population.

A review of postsurgical dysphagia in nonmalignant disease.

Purpose Of Review: This article reviews current literature regarding postsurgical dysphagia in nonmalignant disease examining the current recommendations, risk factors, and potential implications.

Recent Findings: Surgical interventions including anterior cervical spine surgery, thyroidectomy, laryngeal and pulmonary, cardiac, esophageal and fundoplication, gastric and bariatric, and posterior fossa surgeries are known to result in swallowing dysfunction. Postsurgical dysphagia may increase the length of hospitalization, overall cost, risk of pneumonia, and time to oral intake.

The Effects of the Menstrual Cycle on Vibratory Characteristics of the Vocal Folds Investigated With High-Speed Digital Imaging.

Objectives: This study investigated the effect of menstrual cycle on vocal fold vibratory characteristics in young women using high-speed digital imaging. This study examined the menstrual phase effect on five objective high-speed imaging parameters and two self-rated perceptual parameters. The effects of oral birth control use were also investigated.