{"title":"Evaluation of Swallowing Function and Aspiration in Newly Diagnosed Head and Neck Cancer Patients.","authors":"Ping-Chia Cheng, Chia-Na Tusi, Yih-Chia Kao, Chi-Te Wang, Li-Jen Liao, Po-Wen Cheng, Wu-Chia Lo","doi":"10.1007/s00455-025-10888-2","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Swallowing difficulties are common in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, significantly affecting nutrition and quality of life. Early identification of risk factors is essential for timely intervention. A retrospective analysis of 244 newly diagnosed HNC patients was conducted. Swallowing function was assessed using the Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) alongside subjective measures, including the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) and Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS). PAS served as the gold standard for identifying aspiration risk factors. Aspiration events, defined as a PAS score of ≥ 6, varied by tumor site. The highest rate of aspiration events was observed in patients with hypopharyngeal cancers (35%), followed by oropharyngeal (24%), oral cavity (12%), and laryngeal cancers (11%). Notably, no aspiration events were identified in cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Multivariate logistic regression analyses identify age, BMI and tumor site as independent predictors of aspiration. A prediction model was then created as follows: Score = (0.060 × Age) - (0.120 × BMI) + 1.587 (if tumor site is oral cavity) + 1.915 (if tumor site is oropharynx) + 2.425 (if tumor site is hypopharynx) + 0 (if tumor site is larynx, nasopharynx, or other sites) - 5.552. This model achieved an AUC of 0.78, with an optimal cutoff score of -2.15, yielding a sensitivity of 45%, specificity of 93%, and accuracy of 86% for predicting aspiration risk. This research highlights the multifactorial nature of dysphagia in HNC patients and introduces a predictive model for aspiration risk. Early identification of high-risk patients enables timely swallowing evaluations and interventions, improving safety and quality of life.</p>","PeriodicalId":11508,"journal":{"name":"Dysphagia","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Dysphagia","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-025-10888-2","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Swallowing difficulties are common in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, significantly affecting nutrition and quality of life. Early identification of risk factors is essential for timely intervention. A retrospective analysis of 244 newly diagnosed HNC patients was conducted. Swallowing function was assessed using the Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) alongside subjective measures, including the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) and Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS). PAS served as the gold standard for identifying aspiration risk factors. Aspiration events, defined as a PAS score of ≥ 6, varied by tumor site. The highest rate of aspiration events was observed in patients with hypopharyngeal cancers (35%), followed by oropharyngeal (24%), oral cavity (12%), and laryngeal cancers (11%). Notably, no aspiration events were identified in cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Multivariate logistic regression analyses identify age, BMI and tumor site as independent predictors of aspiration. A prediction model was then created as follows: Score = (0.060 × Age) - (0.120 × BMI) + 1.587 (if tumor site is oral cavity) + 1.915 (if tumor site is oropharynx) + 2.425 (if tumor site is hypopharynx) + 0 (if tumor site is larynx, nasopharynx, or other sites) - 5.552. This model achieved an AUC of 0.78, with an optimal cutoff score of -2.15, yielding a sensitivity of 45%, specificity of 93%, and accuracy of 86% for predicting aspiration risk. This research highlights the multifactorial nature of dysphagia in HNC patients and introduces a predictive model for aspiration risk. Early identification of high-risk patients enables timely swallowing evaluations and interventions, improving safety and quality of life.
期刊介绍:
Dysphagia aims to serve as a voice for the benefit of the patient. The journal is devoted exclusively to swallowing and its disorders. The purpose of the journal is to provide a source of information to the flourishing dysphagia community. Over the past years, the field of dysphagia has grown rapidly, and the community of dysphagia researchers have galvanized with ambition to represent dysphagia patients. In addition to covering a myriad of disciplines in medicine and speech pathology, the following topics are also covered, but are not limited to: bio-engineering, deglutition, esophageal motility, immunology, and neuro-gastroenterology. The journal aims to foster a growing need for further dysphagia investigation, to disseminate knowledge through research, and to stimulate communication among interested professionals. The journal publishes original papers, technical and instrumental notes, letters to the editor, and review articles.