Feeding tube use in patients with head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND: Use of a prophylactic feeding tube before concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy (CRT) for patients with head and neck cancer is often debated.

METHODS: A retrospective, exploratory study of 109 veterans with stage III/IV head and neck cancer who completed standard CRT was conducted. Relationships among 3 feeding tube status groups: prophylactic feeding tube (PFT), reactive feeding tube (RFT), and no feeding tube (no-FT) were compared for clinical outcomes.

RESULTS: Patients with a PFT had significantly less weight loss during CRT, fewer nutrition-related emergency department visits or hospitalizations, and higher proportions of chemotherapy cycles completed compared to those with an RFT or no-FT. At 12 months post-CRT, there was no relationship between the use of a PFT and 100% feeding tube dependency.

CONCLUSION: Use of a PFT in this veteran population with stage III/IV head and neck cancer produced better outcomes when compared to both an RFT or no feeding tube without higher rates of long-term dysphagia.