Evaluating dysphagia and xerostomia outcomes following transoral robotic surgery for patients with oropharyngeal cancer

Head Neck. 2021 Dec;43(12):3955-3965. doi: 10.1002/hed.26887. Epub 2021 Oct 7.

Abstract

Background: We assessed long-term patient-reported dysphagia and xerostomia outcomes following definitive surgical management with transoral robotic surgery (TORS) in patients with oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) via a cross-sectional survey study.

Methods: Patients with OPC managed with primary oropharyngeal surgery as definitive treatment at least 1 year ago between 2015 and 2019 were identified. The M. D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) and Xerostomia Inventory (XI) scores were compared across treatment types (i.e., no adjuvant therapy [TORS-A] vs. adjuvant radiotherapy [TORS+RT] vs. adjuvant chemoradiotherapy [TORS+CT/RT]).

Results: The sample had 62 patients (10 TORS-A, 30 TORS+RT, 22 TORS+CT/RT). TORS-A had clinically and statistically significantly better MDADI scores than TORS+RT (p = 0.03) and TORS+CT/RT (p = 0.02), but TORS+RT and TORS+CT/RT were not significantly different. TORS-A had clinically and statistically significantly less XI than TORS+RT (p < 0.01) and TORS+CT/RT (p < 0.01).

Conclusions: Patients with OPC who have undergone TORS+RT or TORS+CT/RT following surgery face clinically worse dysphagia and xerostomia outcomes relative to patients who undergo TORS-A.

Keywords: The M. D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory; Xerostomia Inventory; adjuvant chemoradiotherapy; adjuvant radiotherapy; oropharyngeal cancer; patient-reported outcomes; primary oropharyngeal surgery.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Deglutition Disorders* / epidemiology
  • Deglutition Disorders* / etiology
  • Humans
  • Oropharyngeal Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Robotic Surgical Procedures* / adverse effects
  • Xerostomia* / epidemiology
  • Xerostomia* / etiology