Prevalence of function-limiting late effects in survivors of head and neck cancer.
Yu Hui Won, Michael D Stubblefield
PMID 40008827WHAT IT FOUND
Survivors of head and neck cancer referred to rehabilitation had high rates of complex late effects.
Ninety-two percent had swallowing difficulty, eighty-six percent had facial or neck lymphedema, and seventy-eight percent had cranial nerve dysfunction, indicating a need for comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment.
Key findings
01Dysphagia was present in 92.3% of survivors, with 26.9% requiring long-term tube feeding.
02Cranial nerve dysfunction was observed in 77.7% of survivors, with dysfunction of the spinal accessory nerve being the most prevalent at 66.9%.
03Facial and neck lymphedema was observed in 86.2% of survivors, and the majority required referrals to multiple therapy disciplines.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Selection bias: The cohort consisted of survivors referred to a specialized cancer rehabilitation clinic, likely representing those with more severe or complex late effects, so prevalence rates may not reflect all survivors of head and neck cancer. Retrospective design: Relied on medical chart reviews, which may be incomplete or inconsistent. Diagnostic basis: Many diagnoses were based on clinical assessment rather than confirmatory imaging or electrodiagnostic studies, which could affect accuracy. Virtual visits: Limitations on physical examinations during the COVID-19 pandemic may have affected the completeness of assessments for some patients.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these prevalence rates apply to all survivors of head and neck cancer. This study looked at patients already referred to a rehabilitation specialist for late effects, meaning the population was selected for having problems. A survivor not referred to rehab may have fewer or milder issues.