Lymphoedema after head and neck cancer treatment: an overview for clinical practice

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (Sup4) ◽  
pp. S24-S29
Author(s):  
Claire Jeans ◽  
Bena Brown ◽  
Elizabeth C Ward ◽  
Anne E Vertigan

Lymphoedema is a disorder of the lymphatic system that presents as an atypical swelling and accumulation of protein-rich fluid within the interstitial spaces. Head and neck lymphoedema (HNL) is highly prevalent in patients who have been treated for head and neck cancer (HNC) and may manifest externally on the face and neck; internally within the oral cavity, pharynx or larynx; or as a combination of both. HNL is known to contribute to a wide range of physical, functional and psychological issues, and presents several unique challenges in terms of its management. This review article provides an overview of HNL for clinicians and aims to improve awareness of this condition and the impact it has on patients.

2015 ◽  
Vol 01 (01) ◽  
pp. 021-032 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parveen Ahlawat ◽  
Sheh Rawat ◽  
Anjali Kakria ◽  
Manoj Pal ◽  
Deepika Chauhan ◽  
...  

AbstractHead and neck squamous cell cancers (HNSCC) are a group of heterogeneous tumors, evident by their diverse behavior and natural history. The largest diameter of tumor measured for T classification may not necessarily reflect the true tumor dimension. There is a need to take into account certain other feature(s) of these tumors other than the maximum single dimension which can reflect the true tumor burden more accurately. Tumor volume has been shown to be a useful and accurate tool burden because it is a measurement of tumor burden in all three dimensions. This review article has compiled and reviewed the literature published in past on impact of tumor volumes (TVs) on the prognosis of head and neck cancers. A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed for terms “clonogens,” “TV” or “primary TV (PTV)” or “nodal volume” or “total TV (TTV)” or “volumetric analysis of TV in head and neck” or “predicting response in head and neck cancer” “prognostic factors head and neck cancers” and “outcome in head and neck cancer.” We identified 33 studies which have commented on the impact of TV in HNSCC on treatment outcome, 9 of these had analyzed PTV, 11 studies had analyzed total nodal volume, and 14 studies have analyzed TTV. Besides these, we have dealt with laryngeal cancers separately with 9 studies. This review article is also aimed to enhance our knowledge further regarding how best a physician can incorporate TV data in staging and predicting response to radiotherapy.


Author(s):  
N Bhamra ◽  
B Gorman ◽  
W Arnold ◽  
A Rajah ◽  
K Jolly ◽  
...  

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 832
Author(s):  
Julius M. Vahl ◽  
Marlene C. Wigand ◽  
Michael Denkinger ◽  
Dhayana Dallmeier ◽  
Chiara Steiger ◽  
...  

Background: The impact of demographic change on the age at diagnosis in German head and neck cancer (HNC) patients is unclear. Here we present an evaluation of aging trends in HNC at a tertiary referral center. Methods: Retrospective cohort study on aging trends at the initial diagnosis of newly diagnosed patients with HNC between 2004 and 2018 at the head and neck cancer center Ulm in relation to demographic data of the catchment area. Results: The study population consisted of 2450 individuals diagnosed with HNC with a mean age of 62.84 (±11.67) years. We observed a significant increase in annual incidence rates and mean age over time. Mean age among HNC patients increased significantly more than among the population in the catchment area. Whereas the incidence rate of patients <50 years did not change, the incidence of HNC patients aged ≥70 years increased the most. The mean patient age in the main tumor sites increased significantly. Surprisingly, HPV-positive patients were not younger than HPV-negative patients, but showed a non-significant trend towards a higher mean age (63.0 vs. 60.7 years). Conclusions: Increasing incidence rates in older patients pose a challenge for health care systems. A nationwide study is needed to assess the dynamics and impact of aging on the incidence of HNC.


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 389
Author(s):  
Marisol Miranda-Galvis ◽  
Reid Loveless ◽  
Luiz Paulo Kowalski ◽  
Yong Teng

Epidemiological and clinical studies over the past two decades have provided strong evidence that genetic elements interacting with environmental components can individually and collectively influence one’s susceptibility to cancer. In addition to tumorigenic properties, numerous environmental factors, such as nutrition, chemical carcinogens, and tobacco/alcohol consumption, possess pro-invasive and pro-metastatic cancer features. In contrast to traditional cancer treatment, modern therapeutics not only take into account an individual’s genetic makeup but also consider gene–environment interactions. The current review sharpens the focus by elaborating on the impact that environmental factors have on the pathogenesis and progression of head and neck cancer and the underlying molecular mechanisms involved. Recent advances, challenges, and future perspectives in this area of research are also discussed. Inhibiting key environmental drivers of tumor progression should yield survival benefits for patients at any stage of head and neck cancer.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Enis Tinjak ◽  
Velda Smajlbegović ◽  
Adnan Beganović ◽  
Mirjana Ristanić ◽  
Halil Ćorović ◽  
...  

Introduction: Radiation therapy has long played an integral role in the manage¬ment of locally advanced head and neck cancer (HNC), both for organ preservation and to improve tumor control in the postoperative setting. The aim of this research is to investigate the effects of adaptive radiotherapy on dosimetric, clinical, and toxicity outcomes for patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiation therapy treatment. Many sources have reported volume reductions in the primary target, nodal volumes, and parotid glands over treatment, which may result in unintended dosimetric changes affecting the side effect profile and even efficacy of the treatment. Adaptive radiotherapy (ART) is an interesting treatment paradigm that has been developed to directly adjust to these changes.Material and methods: This research contains the results of 15 studies, including clinical trials, randomized prospective and retrospective studies. The researches analyze the impact of radiation therapy on changes in tumor volume and the relationship with planned radiation dose delivery, as well as the possibility of using adaptive radiotherapy in response to identified changes. Also, medical articles and abstracts that are closely related to the title of adaptive radiotherapy were researched.Results: The application of ART significantly improved the quality of life of patients with head and neck cancer, as well as two-year locoregional control of the disease. The average time to apply ART is the middle of the treatment course approximately 17 to 20 fractions of the treatment.Conclusion: Based on systematic review of the literature, evidence based changes in target volumes and dose reduction at OAR, adaptive radiotherapy is recommended treatment for most of the patients with head and neck cancer with the support of image-guided radiotherapy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn Y. Fang ◽  
Thomas J. Galloway ◽  
Brian L. Egleston ◽  
Jessica R. Bauman ◽  
Barbara Ebersole ◽  
...  

Patients undergoing radiation treatment for head and neck cancer experience significant side-effects that can impact a wide range of daily activities. Patients often report receiving insufficient information during and after treatment, which could impede rehabilitation efforts; they may also encounter practical and logistical barriers to receipt of supportive care. Thus, we developed a web-based program, My Journey Ahead, to provide information and strategies for managing symptom-focused concerns, which may be easily accessed from the patient’s home. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patient acceptability and satisfaction with the My Journey Ahead program. In Phase 1, five patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) reviewed the web-based program and provided initial feedback, which informed program modifications. In Phase 2, 55 patients were recruited to evaluate the program. Patient assessments were obtained prior to and after use of the web-based program, and included measures of psychological distress, self-efficacy in coping with cancer-related issues, and satisfaction with the website. Among the 55 patients enrolled, 44 logged in and viewed the web-based program. Participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the information received, and indicated that the website was interesting and easy to use. Older age and higher levels of self-efficacy in coping were each associated with higher levels of satisfaction with the website. In summary, the web-based program was well-received by patients, the majority of whom found it to be informative and useful. An easy-to-use web-based program, particularly for older patients who may have difficulty locating reliable evidence-based information on the internet, may be helpful in addressing survivors’ needs in symptom management and coping with cancer.Clinical Trial Registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/, NCT02442336


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