Dysphagia & Head and Neck Cancer Flashcards
Head and neck cancer is the ____ leading cancer worldwide, and 8th by mortality
6th
Individuals ____ are at higher risk
40-60 years
____ are 2-4 x more likely than women to develop dx
Men
What are most types of head & neck cancer?
Squamous cell cancers
When originating from the salivary glands, what may the tumor be?
Mucoepidermoid, acinic cell, adenocarcinoma, adenoid cystic
What is key for survival?
Early detection and treatment
Most treatment failures occur when?
Within the first 2 years following definitive treatments
Risk factors of H and N cancer?
- Tobacco
- > 2 alcoholic drinks/dat
- HPV infections
- Marijuana use
- Betel nut chewing, betel quid, Paan (southeast asia)
What has a synergistic effect in increasing risk?
-When both tobacco and alcohol are combined
Other risk factors for H and N cancer? (1/2)
- Poor oral hygiene, ill-fitting dentures
- Epstein-Barr virus
- Asbestos, wood dust,paint fumes
- Pre-cancerous lesions
What is the epstein-barr virus especially a risk factor for?
-Nasopharyngeal and salivary gland cancers
Other risk factors for H and N cancers? (2/2)
- Ethnic origin
- Intake of preserved/salted foods during childhood
- Mate
- GERD and reflux
- Weakened immune system and autoimmune disorders
Which ethnicities are at an increased risk for nasopharyngeal cancer?
-Chinese, Middle East, Mediterranean basin
T staging of TNM?
-Size and extend of the tumour
N staging of TNM?
-Whether the cancer cells have spread to nearby (regional) lymph nodes and to what extend
M staging of TNM?
Whether distant metastasis has occured
What are the treatment modalities avaiable?
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Research protocols
- –> May have single types of treatment or may have a combination of treatments
- ->The order in which treatments s are given may vary
- -> Treatments may be curative or palliative
What is included in the oral cavity?
- Lip
- Floor of mouth
- Hard palate
- Oral tongue
- Alveolar ridge and retromolar trigone
What is included in the oropharynx?
- Base of tongue
- Soft palate
- Tonsillar pillar and fossa
What does the pharynx consist of?
- Nasopharynx
- Oropharynx
- Hypo-pharynx
What is included in the larynx?
- Supra-glottis
- Glottis
- Subglottis
Which cancers are seen in the sub-mental and submandibular nodes (I)?
- Lip
- Anterior of tongue
- Floor of mouth
- Gingiva
- Buccal Mucosa
Which cancers are seen in the upper jugulodigastric group? (II)
-Oral cavity, pharynx, arynx
Which cancers are seen in the middle jugular nodes?
-Nasopharyx, oropharynx, oral cavity, hypopharynx, larynx
Which cancers are seen in the inferior jugular nodes?
-Hypopharynx, subglottic larynx, esophagus
What are three types of swallow evaluation techniques?
- Bedside/clinic evaluation which include a detailed pt interview
- MBS
- FEED
What is another name for MBS?
-Video-fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS)
What is FEES?
An instrumental assessment which involves passing a flexible fiberoptic endoscope transnasally to obtain a superior view of the pharynx and larynx
What are the 5 phases of nutritional intervention?
-Pre-treatment
-Immediate post-op
-Rehab post-op
=During radiation, chemo, or immunotherapy
-Post-therapy treatments
What is the most common symptom at time of diagnosis?
Dysphagia
When is dysphagia especially the most common symptom at time of diagnosis?
When the cancer is located in the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypo-pharynx
What may dysphagia be associated with?
Penetration and aspiration –> may be silent aspiration
How should we intervene with dysphagia initially?
- detailed patient issue and bedside evaluation
- Then, MBS or FEES may be needed to better evaluate detailed aetiology of dysphagia
What is the aetiology of dysphagia with H and N cancer
- Due to disrupted normal anatomy
- Nerve involvement
- Tumor induced pain
Discuss disrupted normal anatomy
- Replacement of normal structure by tumour/ulcerations, soft-tissue tethering and restricting normal movements and muscle weakness
- Mechanical obstruction due to mass effect/size of tumour
Discuss nerve involvement
-Infiltration of the cranial nerves which results in the reduced sensation and motor function
What is the vagus (laryngeal) nerve responsive for? What happens if there is cancer infiltration?
- Responsible for the motion of the intrinsic laryngeal musculature, which produces vocal cord adduction during the passage of the food bolus
- Injury will result in ipsilateral vocal cord paralysis and possibly aspiration
What are the symptoms of dysphagia? (1/2)
- Odynophagia/otalgia
- Sensation of food/something caught in throat (globus)
- Trismus
- Coughing, choking, gagging when eating/drinking
- Drooling/hypersalivation
- Inability to wear dentures
- Difficulty chewing and moving food in mouth
What are the symptoms of dysphagia (2/2)
- Inability to control foods, liquids or saliva in the oral cavity
- Presence of food residue in the oral cavity
- Nasal regurgitation of liquids and food
Nutritional intervention in dysphagia?
- Need to take time to eat/slow down the pace
- Need to cut-up food into small particle sizes and take small sips of fluid
- Need to drink more with meals to clear food residue
What does dysphagia result in?
Anorexia/Early Satiety –> Decreased food intake –> Weight loss –> Malnourished state and weakness
Assessing H and N cancer requires a nutritional assessment and swallow evaluation what are the nutritional implications?
- May need to recommend patient to remain NP and to implement EN
- May need EN to supplement oral intake
- May be able to continue with oral diet, or may need to modify diet
Interventions to improve nutritional status prior to H and N cancer intervention especially in the context of dysphagia?
- Implementation of high protein, high-energy diet including commercial or homemade nutritional supplements
- Adjusting meal pattern to SMFQM which included protein
- Modification of food textures and liquid consistencies
- Avoiding problematic foods
- Increasing moisture content of foods consumed
What compensatory techniques could be integrated prior to intervention for the H and N cancer?
- Placement of food in the oral cavity to bypass the tumour or ulcer
- Use of shortened straws, syringes an long-handled spoons
- May need to implement postural strategies
- May need swallowing maneuvers
which postural position may facilitate intake in the context of dysphagia?
Chin tuck/down posture, head turned to the affected side, and head tilt to the non-effected side
Which swallowing maneuvers may be helpful in the context of dysphasia?
- Effortful swallow
- Supraglottic swallow (hold breath before swallowing, and cough before breathing again)
- Mendesohn
- -> These are usually done by the speech therapist
Tracheostomy?
An opening made by an incision in the trachea – may be temporary or permanent