Prediction of Speech, Swallowing, and Quality of Life in Oral Cavity Cancer Patients: A Pilot Study

• DOI: 10.1002/lary.29573
• Publication Date: 2021-04-22T02:35:39Z
• Authors: Mustafa G. Bulbul; Michael Wu; Derrick Lin; Kevin Emerick; Daniel Deschler; Jeremy Richmon; Tessa Goldsmith; Joseph Zenga; Sidharth V. Puram; Mark A. Varvares
• Keywords: Adult; Aged, 80 and over; Male; Oral Surgical Procedures; Pilot Projects; Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Risk Assessment; Speech Disorders; Deglutition; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Quality of Life; Humans; Speech; Female; Mouth Neoplasms; Prospective Studies; Deglutition Disorders; Aged; Retrospective Studies

Objectives/Hypothesis To investigate the impact of specific treatment‐related variables on functional and quality life outcomes in oral cavity cancer (OCC) patients. Study Design Retrospective Cohort. Methods Patients with primary OCC at least 6 months after resection adjuvant therapy were included. completed surveys including Speech Handicap Index (SHI), M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI), Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy‐Head Neck (FACT‐HN). Performance Status Scale (PSS) tongue mobility scale to allow provider‐rated assessment speech mobility, respectively. Additional details regarding treatment also collected. These data used generate a predictive model using linear regression. Results Fifty‐three patients and/or floor mouth (FOM) included our study. In multivariable analysis, greater postoperative range motion (ROM) time since improved SHI. Flap reconstruction ROM increased MDADI PSS (eating speech). A larger volume resected tissue was inversely correlated (diet Tumor site an important predictor (all sections). There no statistically significant predictors FACT‐HN. Conclusions this pilot study, we propose battery tools assess function treated surgery. Using propose, results show that surgical endpoint preserves employs flap resulted better outcomes, whereas those FOM involvement poorer outcomes. Larger prospective studies are needed validate findings. Level Evidence 3 Laryngoscope , 131:2497–2504, 2021