Архивы клинической патологии

Optimizing swallowing outcomes and management of dysphagia in head and neck cancer

Shashikant Limbachiya

Dysphagia (swallowing dysfunction) is a debilitating, depressing and potentially life-threatening complication in cancer patients that is likely neglected. In last two decades oncological outcomes has improved with advance in surgical and radiation methods, that’s why quality of life needs to be addressed among survivors. This keynote lecture is aimed to give precise information on dysphagia in head and neck with a focus on assessment tools, prevalence, complications and impact on quality of life. Management of swallowing dysfunctions will be covered with recent advances and available evidences in all subsites of head and neck cancers that are treated with curative surgical/chemoradiation modality