Development of a multivariable normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) model for tube feeding dependence after curative radiotherapy/chemo-radiotherapy in head and neck cancer

Abstract

We developed a multivariable NTCP model for TUBEM6 to identify patients at risk for tube feeding dependence. The dosimetric variables can be used to optimize radiotherapy treatment planning aiming at prevention of tube feeding dependence and to estimate the benefit of new radiation technologies.

Influence of dosimetric and clinical criteria on the requirement of artificial nutrition during radiotherapy of head and neck cancer patients

“…This is in accordance to the observation of most other investigators [49][50][51][52][53], who used mean doses to specific swallowing structured in their final NTCP model. However, they did not explicitly state whether they had also tested fixed percentages.…”

Evaluation of long term (10-years+) dysphagia and trismus in patients treated with concurrent chemo-radiotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer

“…However, results probably would have been even more dismal if not 45% of these long term survivors had received IMRT. Regarding oral intake during treatment, the usefulness of prophylactic gastric tube placement to maintain weight and nutrition during treatment is currently under debate [36]. The controversy is mainly about maintaining weight during treatment versus maintaining swallowing function by training oral intake [37].…”

Impact of weight loss in patients with head and neck carcinoma undergoing radiotherapy: is it an underestimated phenomenon? A radiation oncologist’s perspective

“…11,21 It would be desirable to have a prognostic nomogram for weight loss including clinical and dosimetric parameters, and depending on the results the estimated risk for an individual patient could be evaluated. Finally, several authors [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] have evaluated swallowing dysfunction after RT and attempted to determine the dosimetric (radiation dose-volume) factors correlating with swallowing toxicity. These results are summarized in Table 1.…”