Arch Otolaryngol
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To design a reliable and validated self-administered questionnaire whose purpose is to assess dysphagia's effects on the quality of life (QOL) of patients with head and neck cancer. ⋯ The MDADI is the first validated and reliable self-administered questionnaire designed specifically for evaluating the impact of dysphagia on the QOL of patients with head and neck cancer. Standardized questionnaires that measure patients' QOL offer a means for demonstrating treatment impact and improving medical care. The development and validation of the MDADI and its use in prospective clinical trials allow for better understanding of the impact of treatment of head and neck cancer on swallowing and of swallowing difficulty on patients' QOL.
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To determine the relative prognostic value of p53, cyclin D1, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in patients with oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. ⋯ In oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated with surgery and postoperative radiotherapy, VEGF and EGFR expression may influence clinical outcome. If confirmed, these results have potential implications for the determination of patient prognosis and the development of biologically based pharmacotherapies.
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The surgical treatment of head and neck cancer can be limited by the risk of postoperative complications. Early identification of risk factors based on clinical characteristics may assist therapeutic planning. ⋯ Bilateral neck dissection and the APACHE II score were identified as risk factors for postoperative complications in oral cancer, which also increase the length of hospital stay. The occurrence of systemic complications, advanced extended clinical severity stage, and staying in an ICU adversely affect the prognosis. Therefore, the prompt recognition of the adverse risk factors for postoperative complications may guide proactive interventions that may improve survival and achieve cost-effectiveness.