Predictors of the need for prophylactic percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in head and neck cancer patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy

We investigated whether prophylactic percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is used effectively for patients treated with definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) and the predictors of need PEG. 326 laryngeal, oropharyngeal or hypopharyngeal cancers were retrospectively reviewed. The PEG tube use group had more favorable results than total parenteral nutrition nasogastric groups in terms rate serum albumin loss, incidence severe fever aspiration pneumonia, CCRT completion hospitalization period. However, it was inferior to oral intake. Analysis relative risk requiring enteral revealed that performance status (PS) 2, primary site (supraglottis, oropharynx, hypopharynx), N3 disease, cisplatin nutritional support. Prophylactic effective especially required PS2 cancer.