Nutritional status in head and neck cancer patients

Patients suffering from cancer of head and neck are at risk of nutritional depletion. The aim of our study was to investigate the role of type, location and stage of tumors in nutritional status.

A population of 230 consecutive patients with head and neck cancer was enrolled. A nutritional evaluation was realized.

The distribution of tumour sites was: oral cavity (77 patients), pharynx (30 patients) and larynx (123 patients). Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) test showed significant differences. Midly malnourished frequency is higher in larynx site than others. Severely malnourished is higher in larynx and oral cavity than pharynx. In pharynx, larynx and oral cavity tumours is more frequent to be well nourished than severely malnourished. In pharynx and larynx tumours is more frequent to be mildly malnourished than severely malnourished. In stages II, III and IV are more frequent to be well nourished than severely malnourished and in stages II and III is more frequent to be mildly malnourished than severely malnourished.

SGA test shows a good nutritional status in patients with head and neck tumours. However, SGA test shows statistical differences in some categories of tumours stages or sites.