medical decision support medical decision support
Sign In

Patterns of Christianen et al for Long-Term Swallowing Dysfunction After Definitive Radiotherapy or Chemoradiation for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Description

Christianen et al identified several patterns of swallowing dysfunction following therapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. These can impact the patient’s quality of life and management. The authors are from the University of Groningen and University Medical Center Amsterdam in The Netherlands.


 

Patient selection: head and neck squamous cell carcinoma following definitive therapy, with normal swallowing at baseline

 

Outcome: toxicity Grade from 0 to 4

 

Parameters:

(1) Grade of swallowing dysfunction at 6 months (from 0 to 3)

(2) Grade of swallowing dysfunction at 12 months (from 0 to 3)

(3) Grade of swallowing dysfunction at 18 months (from 0 to 3)

(4) Grade of swallowing dysfunction at 24 months (from 0 to 3)

 

Pattern

Pattern

all readings less than Grade 1, final nearer Grade 0

low/mild persistent

maximum reading Grade 1, final nearer Grade 1

moderate persistent

all readings >= Grade 2

severe persistent

initial Grade 2 or 3, final less than Grade 1

transient

initial reading <= Grade 1, final >= Grade 2, all intermediate readings >= 1

progressive

 

In the implementation if the pattern did not match one of these it was termed “mixed.”

 


To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.

Specialty