6th ICHNO Abstract Book

page 56 6 th ICHNO Conference International Conference on innovative approaches in Head and Neck Oncology 16 – 18 March 2017 Barcelona, Spain __________________________________________________________________________________________ Purpose or Objective 6th ICHNO

the swallowing exercises regularly. All tools used were translated into Arabic language. Data analyses were carried out using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS), program version 20. Results Most of the patients from both groups experienced mild dysphagia during the 1 st visit. By the 3 rd visit, severe dysphagia (to thin & thick liquids, and soft & hard food) was higher in the control group (73.3%) compared to the study group (26.7%). During the 1 st visit, there was no statistical significant difference between control and study groups regarding cough or choking during swallowing hard food (p =1.00) and swallowing thin liquids (p = 0.42); yet the difference reached a significant level by the 3rd visit. By the third visit there was statistically significant difference between both groups in swallowing thin liquids (p = 0.00), as well as thick liquids (p = 0.00). At the 1 st visit, there was no significant difference regarding swallowing soft food (p = 0.24), hard food (p = 0.12), dry food (p = 0.89) and swallowing Saliva (p = 0.28). While by the 3 rd visit, there was significant difference between control & study groups in all parameters . Conclusion Dysphagia has been under-estimated & improperly treated in HNCPs. Adequate prevention & treatment of dysphagia is essential to plan a complete therapeutic programme, by reducing the side effects that may have negative impact on QoL and might affect the overall survival. PO-118 Acute and late toxicities in patients with oral cancer treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy A. Cristaudo 1 , S. Ursino 1 , D. Delishaj 1 , F. Matteucci 1 , A. Molinari 1 , F. Paiar 1 1 Ospedale Santa Chiara, Radiation Oncology, Pisa, Italy Purpose or Objective to analyze acute and late toxicities in patients (pts) with oral cancer treated with IMRT. Material and Methods From January 2011 to January 2016, 58 pts (mean age 62.9 yrs; range 42-87) with oral cancer who underwent adjuvant RT or exclusive RT-CT were analyzed. RT was performed with IMRT technique and LINAC DHX (Varian Medical Systems). The prescribed dose was 66 Gy (2.2 Gy/ff) for PTVs high risk; 60 Gy (2.0 Gy/ff) for PTVs intermediate risk and 54 Gy (1.8 Gy/ff) for PTVs low risk. Acute and late toxicity was evaluated according to CTCAE scale vs. 4.0 by weekly examination during RT treatment and every 3 months after RT. Results At analysis 41 pts (70%) were male and 17 (30%) female. The median follow-up was 23.3 months (range 3- 63months). Overall, 36 pts (62%) underwent surgically treatment and 22 (38%) exclusive RTCT treatment. RTCT or RT plus molecular-target therapy was prescribed in 27 pts (47%); in addition to RT, 22 pts (81%) received CDDP 40 mg/mq q7 and 5 pts (19%) received Cetuximab 250 mg/mq q7. Acute toxicity: G1/G2 mucositis occurred in 52 pts (89%) and G3 in 2 pts (3.5%); G1/G2 dysphagia in 35 pts (60%) and G3 in 3 (5%) pts; G1/G2 odynophagia was observed in 40 (69%) pts and G3 in 4 pts (8%); G1/G2 dysgeusia in 49 pts (84%) and G3 in 2 (3.5%) pts. Finally, G1/G2 weight loss was observed in 29 pts (50%) and G3 in 3 pts (5%). Patients with G3 dysphagia or weight loss underwent parenteral nutrition and those with G2 weight loss required nutritional support. Only 1 pts required the placement of PEG because of significant weight loss (10 kg). Late toxicity: G1/G2 mucositis occurred in 5 pts (9%); G1/G2 dysphagia in 24 pts (41%) and G3 in 3 (5%) pts; G1/G2 odynophagia in 26 pts (45%) and G3 in 1 (1.7%) pts; G1 dysgeusia occurred in 23 pts (40%) and G3 in 2 (3.5%); G1/G2 xerostomia was observed in 15 pts (26%) and G3 in

Several clinical questions have been shown to be difficult to answer with conventional imaging in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This presentation focuses on three of these questions. 1. The differentiation between malign and benign lymph nodes. 2. The detection of cartilage and bone invasion 3. The differentiation between post-radiation effects and tumor recurrence. Due to improvements in scanning equipment spectral CT imaging has recently become commercially available in daily clinical practice. Spectral CT utilizes different x-ray energies in order to obtain tissue characteristics. This additional information might be able to answer some of the above questions. Purpose: To investigate the potential of spectral CT in the detection of lymph node metastases, cartilage and bone invasion and tumor recurrence in patients with HNSCC. Material and Methods In this analysis we describe the basic principles of spectral CT including concepts such as iodine and calcium density and effective atomic number (effective Z). Furthermore the role of spectral CT in answering the above mentioned questions will be discussed using clinical cases. Results Preliminary data of spectral CT for the detection of lymph node metastases, cartilage and bone invasion and tumor recurrence from patients scanned and treated in our head and neck center. Conclusion Spectral CT is a new technique potentially able to answer clinical questions in patients with HNSCC which currently are inadequately able to be assessed by conventional imaging. PO-117 Swallowing exercises: Will it really help head and neck cancer patients? W. Hashem 1 , R. Abdelkader 2 , L. Abdelkader 2 , S. Elhadary 2 , K. Mashhour 1 1 Kasr el ainy school of medicine, clinical oncology, Cairo, Egypt 2 Faculty of Nursing- Cairo University, Medical –Surgical Nursing, Cairo, Egypt Purpose or Objective Dysphagia has been reported in 30-50% of head & neck cancer patients (HNCPs). It is defined as the difficulty or impossibility to swallow liquids, food, or medication; which can occur during the oropharyngeal or esophageal phase. Factors that predict dysphagia include: T & N stage, primary site, type of treatment, extension of treated region, patient characteristics (baseline swallowing function, PS, smoking & alcohol abuse, age, lean mass, gender). All treatment options, including surgery & CRT result in swallowing problems along with aspiration. The work was a comparative study, the aim of which is to evaluate the impact of swallowing exercises on swallowing problems among HNCPs after CRT. Material and Methods A sample of 60 HNCPs was equally divided into 2 groups, control and study groups. The investigators met all patients 3 times (before, during & after CRT); swallowing ability was assessed using Sydney Swallowing Questionnaire (SSQ). The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center Swallowing Exercise Protocol was explained and demonstrated by the investigators to the study group. Patients in the study group were encouraged to adhere to Poster: Supportive care, quality of life, rehabilitation