Patient selection: Stage I or II head and neck cancer treated with radiation therapy
Stage I is a tumor <= 2.0 cm in diameter without lymph node or distant metastases.
Stage II is a tumor 2.1 to 4.0 cm in diameter without lymph node or distant metastases.
Weight loss in study group: 2.2 kg (mean) with standard deviation 3.4 kg
Risk factors for greater weight loss:
(1) Stage II cancer
(2) primary site NOT glottic larynx
(3) higher body weight prior to radiation therapy
(4) odynophagia and/or dysphagia prior to radiation therapy
(5) lower Karnofsky performance score
The more of these factors that are present, the greater the chances for increased weight loss.
Performance:
• The area under the ROC curve was 0.71 which is mediocre.
