Assessment of cough in head and neck cancer patients at risk for dysphagia-An overview

Cancer Rep (Hoboken). 2021 Oct;4(5):e1395. doi: 10.1002/cnr2.1395. Epub 2021 May 1.

Abstract

Background: This literature review explores the terminology, the neurophysiology, and the assessment of cough in general, in the framework of dysphagia and regarding head and neck cancer patients at risk for dysphagia. In the dysphagic population, cough is currently assessed perceptually during a clinical swallowing evaluation or aerodynamically.

Recent findings: Recent findings have shown intra and inter-rater disagreements regarding perceptual scoring of cough. Also, aerodynamic measurements are impractical in a routine bedside assessment. Coughing, however, is considered to be a clinically relevant sign of aspiration and dysphagia in head and cancer patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Conclusion: This article surveys the literature regarding the established cough assessment and stresses the need to implement innovative methods for assessing cough in head and neck cancer patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy at risk for dysphagia.

Keywords: aspiration; assessment; cough; dysphagia; head and neck cancer; radiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Chemoradiotherapy / adverse effects*
  • Cough / etiology
  • Cough / pathology*
  • Deglutition Disorders / etiology
  • Deglutition Disorders / pathology*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Pneumonia, Aspiration / etiology
  • Pneumonia, Aspiration / pathology*