Swallowing and Tongue Function
Following Treatment for Oral
and Oropharyngeal Cancer
The Purpose
Of this study were to
Examine the effects of radiotherapy chemotherapy on tongue strength and endurance in individuals with head and neck cancer.
A further goal was to examine the relationship between tongue function and swallowing in these
same individuals and control subjects.
This study examines
1.
Functional and temporal characteristics of swallowing
2.
Tongue strength and endurance
3.
Relationship between the strength and resistance of the tongue and the function of swallowing
In patients with oropharyngeal cancer before and after chemotherapy and radiotherapy
People with normal swallowing
Hypothesis
1.
That subjects with head and neck cancer would perform worse posttreatment than healthy subjects on both tongue function and
swallow function measures.
2.
It was also hypothesized that tongue strength would correlate with oral phase swallow measures in both groups.
Participants
13 individuals with newly diagnosed tumors of the oral cavity and oropharynx
A were evaluated twice:
1, Pretreatment
2. Two months posttreatment
13 ageand sex-matched control subjects.
were evaluated only once
Instrumentation
1.
Tongue Function Instrumentation
Using the Iowa Oral
Performance Instrument
Is a device designed to measure pressure generated by the tongue
2.
Videofluorographic Swallow Protocol
Fluorographic Instrumentation
Evaluate oropharyngeal swallowing
Results
1.
In the control group, tongue strength and endurance measures were found to be within the range previously observed in healthy individuals.
2.
Tongue endurance was also found to be
with in the normal range for the group with Head and neck cancer both pre and posttreatment.
3.
Tongue strength, however, was significantly reduced in the group with Head and neck cancer both pre and posttreatment, as compared to the control group.
Conclusion
Swallowing function and tongue strength did not improve significantly in people with head and neck cancer, but worsened after treatment (Chemotherapy and radiotherapy).
One of the hypotheses said.