[Nutritional status of patients with cancer of larynx and hypopharyx]

The meaning of proper nutritional state in the group of cancer patients in preoperative period was noticed already over 40 years ago. In spite, that treatment of malnutrition is easy, many patients are not diagnosed and not treated, what has obvious consequences. The aim of this study was to evaluate nutritional status of patients with cancer of larynx and hypopharynx before the treatment.

223 men and 29 women with diagnosed squamous cell cancer of larynx and hypopharynx, who were classified to surgical treatment, were included into study. The evaluated population was divided into groups depending on location and local extend of the tumor. The nutritional state was assessed using: body mass index (BMI) and total lymphocyte count (TCL).

Using BMI the malnutrition was diagnosed in 41% of all patients. The level of malnutrition increases while increases stage of local extend of tumor. The least numerous group of malnutritioned patients were those with tumor of glottis, but also in this group was the largest percentage of patients with local extend of tumor: T1 and T2. The state of considerable malnutrition was diagnosed in 34% patients with tumor of the piriform recess. Using TLC the malnutrition characterized 37% of all patients. In the group with tumor of glottis and epiglottis the level of malnutrition increases while increases stage of local extend of tumor. All the patients with tumor T4 with unclassified origin location were classified to the group of malnutritioned.

The malnutrition is diagnosed in considerable percentage of patients with cancer of larynx and hypopharynx. The diagnosis of poor nutritional state will permit to apply suitable, controlled nutrition before surgical treatment. This will contribute in decrease of complication frequency and improve the tolerance of treatment.