2020 Volume 29 Issue 3 Pages 291-297
Introduction: In the resection of tongue cancer and subsequent reconstruction, preservation of postoperative function of the upper aero-digestive tract has been considered to affect quality of life. In the present study, we attempted to assess the degrees of conversation and swallowing function after radical surgery and reconstruction in patients with tongue cancer.
Patients and methods: Fifty-eight patients with tongue cancer were enrolled (median age: 59, range: 16-88). Conversation function was evaluated according to the Conversation Score (CS) of the Clinical Practice Guideline for Head and Neck Cancer of the Japan Society for Head and Neck Cancer. Swallowing function was evaluated using the Method of intake, Time of intake, and Food Score (MTFS), and Functional Outcome Swallowing Scale (FOSS).
Results: The median of CS, MTFS and FOSS was 9, 12, and 1, respectively. Only one case (2%) showed CS of 4 reflecting poor social language activity. Patients in whom more than 50% of the tongue was resected showed a significant decrease in CS compared with those in whom no more than 50% was resected (p=0.004). With regard to MTFS and FOSS, in the younger group (‹65 years of age, 40 patients), 78% were scored as MTFS of no less than 12 and 68% showed FOSS of 1 or less. In the older group (≥65 years of age, 18 patients), 33% showed MTFS of no less than 12 and 33% exhibited FOSS of 1 or less. A comparison between the two groups showed significant differences (MTFS: p=0.001, FOSS: p=0.042). Patients in whom more than 50% of the base of the tongue was resected showed a significant decrease of FOSS compared with those in whom no more than 50% was resected (p=0.045). However, the performance of postoperative radiation therapy affected none of the scores.
