Dysphagia and Quality of Life in Patients With Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Before and After Treatment

While the group of oral cavity cancer (OCC) survivors continue to increase, surgeons and oncologist intensify their search for improved treatment and rehabilitation methods to reduce the morbidity of management without compromising the oncological safety. The predominant problem after treatment of OCC is dysphagia, which is associated with malnutrition, aspiration pneumonia, hospital re-admission, and reduced quality of life (QoL) and survival.

In a pilot study, the investigators found that 45% of OCC patients reported significant eating disabilities two years after surgical treatment. However, the international literature is limited on the dysphagia and QoL of OCC survivors.

With an overall goal to improve the QoL and health status in patients treated for OCC, the present study aims to

1. systematically evaluate the swallowing function before and after treatment, 2. investigate the impact of swallowing function on QoL, 3. identify risk factors for dysphagia, 4. investigate if swallowing function is an independent factor for the number of ´days alive and out of hospital´ 5. evaluate the rehabilitation offered to OCC patients in Danish municipalities and the effect on swallowing outcomes.

One hundred patients treated for OCC will be included prospectively during a 2-year period. Data on type and location of tumour, treatment modality, complications, patient weight, dietary intake, rehabilitation program, hospital admissions, recurrences, and survival will be collected. Questionnaires and Modified Barium Swallow Study (MBSS) will be performed before and 2 and 12 months after treatment.