Swallowing dysfunction is a common sequelae after chemoradiation for oropharynx carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: A retrospective review of all patients with advanced oropharynx cancer from a single institution was performed.

METHODS: Sixty-seven patients with stage III/IV oropharynx cancer were treated with definitive radiotherapy with or without concurrent chemotherapy from 1990 to 2004. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 91 months with a median of 32 months.

RESULTS: Patients treated with concurrent chemotherapy had a statistically significant benefit for control above the clavicles, primary control, disease-free survival, and overall survival but no difference in distant control at 3 years. Cox proportional regression model demonstrated the use of concurrent chemotherapy to be the only independent variable that reached significance for control above the clavicles, primary control, and overall survival. Complete dysphagia for solids and/or gastrostomy tube dependence was observed in more patients who were treated with chemoradiation than those treated with radiation alone; 18% and 0%, respectively (P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent chemotherapy decreases the recurrence at the primary site and above the clavicles. The most notable difference in sequelae between the 2 groups was the increase in swallowing dysfunction with concurrent chemotherapy.