Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease is associated with various head and neck manifestations. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the incidence of asymptomatic, or "silent," gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patients treated for pharyngolaryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
Methods: Twenty-four-hour pH monitoring was performed in 72 consecutive patients without digestive manifestations (pyrosis, retrosternal heartburn) of GERD treated for pharyngolaryngeal carcinoma. Statistical analysis of the relationship between reflux scores achieved and various patient parameters (age, tobacco and alcohol consumption, gastric ulcers, medications which decrease esophageal sphincter pressure), tumor parameters (staging), and therapeutic parameters (drugs administered during neo-adjuvant chemotherapy) was performed.
Results: Incidence of silent GERD varied from 36% to 37% according to the reflux scores. No relationship was found between the reflux scores and the patient or tumor parameters. Among the therapeutic parameters, a statistical relation was noted between the total dose of Cisplatin and the reflux scores (p = .005).
Conclusions: Silent GERD is a common finding in patients treated for squamous cell carcinoma of the pharyngolarynx. Additionally, chemotherapy including Cisplatin may aggravate GERD during the course of therapy.