The effects of swallowing disorders, dysgeusia, oral mucositis and xerostomia on nutritional status, oral intake and weight loss in head and neck cancer patients: a systematic review

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is common in several countries around the world, with an estimated number of 300,400 new cases and 145,400 deaths from oral cavity and lip cancer occurred in 2012 [1]. Oral cavity cancers, as well as larynx and pharynx cancer, represent about 10% of all malignancies in men and 4% in women [2]. Some studies [3,4] show that, unfortunately, many HNC patients are diagnosed when the disease is already at an advanced stage (Stage III/IV) and patients suffer conditions of nutritional vulnerability, with a high risk of malnutrition [5–7].
Source: Cancer Treatment Reviews - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Source Type: research