Quality of life scores compared to objective measures of swallowing function after oropharyngeal chemoradiation

Objectives: To compare objective measures of swallowing function with patient reports of swallowing-related Quality of Life one year after treatment of oropharyngeal cancer with chemoradiation therapy. Study Design: Patients seen for follow-up at least one year after treatment of oropharyngeal carcinoma with chemoradiation therapy were sequentially approached and asked to participate in the study. Methods: Maximum pharyngeal constriction, hyoid elevation, upper esophageal sphincter (UES) opening size and bolus pharyngeal transit time were measured from modified barium swallowing studies in a group of 31 patients at least one year after chemoradiation therapy for the treatment of oropharyngeal carcinoma. Measures were made for a liquid 1cc, 3cc and 20cc bolus. Objective measure results were compared to scores from the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory and The University of Washington Swallowing Quality of Life Questionnaire results from the same patients.