Enteral nutrition support and treatment toxicities in patients with head and neck cancer receiving definitive or adjuvant helical intensity‐modulated radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Enteral nutrition support and treatment toxicities in patients with head and neck cancer receiving definitive or adjuvant helical intensity‐modulated radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy via Head & Neck Abstract Background Enteral nutrition (EN) is often required in patients with head and neck cancer (HNSCC); however, initiation criteria is limited or inconsistent. This study aimed to describe the relationship of treatment toxicities and requirement for EN and investigate toxicity and baseline characteristics association with EN duration. Methods Acute toxicities and baseline characteristics were collected from patients with HNSCC (n = 110) undergoing H-IMRT. Percentage EN contributing to estimated requirements and EN duration were measured. Results The threshold for patients needing ≥50% of estimated requirements via EN increased from week 3 to 4 for grade ≥2 oral/pharyngeal mucositis, dysgeusia, thick saliva and nausea, and for grade 3 dysphagia. Patients with grade 2–3 dysphagia had a reduced risk of ceasing EN compared to those with grade 0–1 dysphagia. Conclusions Using acute toxicities in clinical practice may be a useful tool to inform prompt initiation of EN prior to decline in nutritional status and anticipate EN duration. View on Web

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