• R Madan, A K Kairo, A Sharma, S Roy, S Singh, L Singh, J Kaur, B K Mohanti, S Bhasker, A D Upadhyay, and G K Rath.
• Department of Radiation Oncology,All India Institute of Medical Sciences,New Delhi,India.
• J Laryngol Otol. 2015 Jul 1; 129 (7): 710-4.

BackgroundAspiration pneumonia is an important cause of death in head and neck cancer patients. This study therefore aimed to evaluate the risk factors associated with aspiration pneumonia in head and neck cancer patients.MethodsHospital death records from 12 years (2000-2012) were reviewed to obtain the number of deaths. Treatment details and cause of death were analysed. Statistical analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for aspiration pneumonia.ResultsThe records revealed that aspiration pneumonia was the cause of death in 51 out of 85 patients. Primary tumour site (oropharynx and hypopharynx, odds ratio 3.3; 95 per cent confidence interval 1.17-9.4, p = 0.02) and advanced tumour stage (odds ratio 4.2, 95 per cent confidence interval 1.16-15.61, p = 0.02) had significant negative impacts on aspiration pneumonia related mortality.ConclusionAdvanced pharyngeal cancer patients are at an increased risk of aspiration pneumonia related death. Investigations for the early detection of this condition are recommended in these high-risk patients.

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