Enteral Feeding During Chemoradiotherapy for Advanced Head-and-Neck Cancer: A Single-Institution Experience Using a Reactive Approach

摘要: Purpose The optimal method for providing enteral nutrition to patients with head-and-neck cancer is unclear. The purpose of the present study was evaluate safety and efficacy our reactive policy, which consists installation a nasogastric (NG) feeding tube only when required by patient's nutritional status. Methods Materials records all Stage III IV treated concomitant chemotherapy radiotherapy between January 2003 December 2006 were reviewed. overall disease-free survival rates estimated using Kaplan-Meier compared log–rank test. Results included 253 patients, median follow-up 33 months. At 3 years, rate 82.8% 77.8%, respectively, whole population. No difference observed according presence absence NG or stratified weight loss quartile. mean during treatment 10.4%. proportion requiring 49.8%, remained in place duration 40 days. major complications associated installation. Only 3% still dependent on at 6 Conclusion These results suggest that use an interdisciplinary team approach safe effective manage malnutrition cancer.