Background: This study aimed to describe and explore the longitudinal changes in swallowing function among patients with oral cancer who underwent surgery and proactive swallowing therapy from baseline to 1-year postoperation.
Methods: We retrospectively studied 118 patients over a 4.5-year duration. Swallowing functional assessment including 10-item Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10), Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), M. D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory, and Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile (MBSImP™) was performed at baseline, 1-month, 6-month, and 1-year postoperatively.
Results: All swallowing parameters worsened 1-month postoperation. EAT-10, FOIS, and MBSImP™ oral and pharyngeal impairment scores improved significantly compared with 1-month postoperation at 6 months. Other swallowing parameters, except for weight, did not differ significantly from baseline at 6 months. The rate of tube-feeding dependency was 11.5% and 5.6% at 1 and 6 months postoperation, respectively.
Conclusions: Periodic swallowing functional assessments help delineate the longitudinal changes in swallowing functional outcomes.
Keywords: dysphagia; oral cancer; quality of life; recovery of function.
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