Impact of selective neck dissection on chronic dysphagia after chemo-intensity-modulated radiotherapy for oropharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Conflicting results are reported regarding the impact of neck dissection on radiation-associated dysphagia. The purpose of this study was to reexamine this question specific to oropharyngeal intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). METHODS Three hundred forty-nine patients with oropharyngeal cancer treated with bilateral IMRT with systemic therapy (induction and/or concurrent) were reviewed. Chronic dysphagia was defined by aspiration, stricture, pneumonia, and/or gastrostomy dependence ≥12 months post-IMRT. RESULTS Selective neck dissection was performed after IMRT in 75 patients (21%). Overall, 41 patients (12%) developed chronic dysphagia. Neck dissection did not increase the rate of chronic dysphagia (9% neck dissection; 12% no neck dissection; p = .464) or gastrostomy duration (p = .482). On multivariate analysis, age (odds ratio [OR] per 5-year = 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04-1.51), baseline abnormal diet (OR = 2.78; 95% CI = 1.31-5.88), and IMRT dose (OR per 5-Gy = 5.11; 95% CI = 1.77-14.81) significantly predicted dysphagia. CONCLUSION In the setting of selective neck dissection for residual adenopathy after IMRT, neck dissection did not impact dysphagia. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 886-893, 2016.