1. Introduction
dysphagia, tumor, damages, cancer, sarcopenia, HNC, head and neck cancer, neurological diseases, Dysphagia
DYSPHAGIA, TUMOR, NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE, ADVERSE EVENTS, CANCER, SARCOPENIA, FUNCTIONAL DISORDERS, HEAD AND NECK CANCER, DYSPHAGIA
Earlier, surgery was the mainstay of treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC); however, treatment algorithms have changed to include postoperative or definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT).While the number of cancer survivors is increasing, they often suffer from functional disorders, and their quality of life (QOL) declines after treatment.The normal swallowing process is generally classified into oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal stages according to the location of the bolus.Radiotherapy (RT) is an important treatment modality for HNC; however, it damages the tumor as well as healthy oral and pharyngo-laryngeal tissues. Dysphagia is developed in approximately half of the patients with HNC as acute and late adverse events (AEs) by RT.The usefulness of TP measurement has recently been demonstrated in evaluating swallowing function in patients with neurological diseases and sarcopenia.In this trial, we aim to investigate the usefulness of the TP measurement device as a quantitative evaluation method for dysphagia in HNC patients. Our findings will help improve rehabilitation programs for dysphagia and contribute to the improving the QOL of patients.