Dysphagia in Patients with Tongue Cancer Treated with Surgery.
- Author:
Eun Jung SUNG
1
;
Kyoung Hyo CHOI
;
JaYoung KIM
;
Seoyon YANG
;
Jong Lyel ROH
;
Seung Ho CHOI
;
Soon Yuhl NAM
;
Sang Yoon KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. kyounghyochoi@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Deglutition disorders;
Head and neck neoplasms;
Deglutition;
Tongue neoplasms
- MeSH:
Deglutition;
Deglutition Disorders*;
Diet;
Follow-Up Studies;
Glossectomy;
Head and Neck Neoplasms;
Humans;
Joints;
Neck Dissection;
Retrospective Studies;
Telephone;
Tongue Neoplasms*;
Tongue*
- From:
Journal of the Korean Dysphagia Society
2019;9(1):1-9
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the swallowing problems after a primary resection in patients with tongue cancer. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with primary tongue cancer, who underwent a glossectomy and had undergone a Video Fluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS) prior to surgery in a university hospital between January 2010 and May 2015, were included retrospectively. The clinical and swallowing features, including the VFSS parameters before and after surgery, were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 38 patients, 33 patients were T1 and T2 stage. Thirty-one, six and one patient underwent a partial glossectomy, hemiglossectomy, and total glossectomy, respectively. More than ninety percent of the patients had a selective neck dissection. All the patients were on a regular diet before surgery and showed no penetration or aspiration on the VFSS. Immediately after surgery, 33 patients (87%) had to change to non-oral feeding. At discharge, 8 patients (21%) maintained non-oral feeding, and 30 patients ate a limited diet. In a telephone survey (mean 19 months after surgery), among the 25 survey participants, 24 patients (96%) reported no problems with their regular diet. CONCLUSION: In tongue cancer patients with low Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM), American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stages, a primary resection of tongue cancer did not cause statistically significant dysphagia after surgery. Although many patients had to change their diet to limited or non-oral feeding immediately after surgery, almost all patients improved and could eat a regular diet after the long term follow up.
