Swallowing Patterns in the HNC Population: Timing of Penetration-Aspiration Events and Residue

This study described swallowing patterns in a large head/neck cancer (HNC) cohort.

In a retrospective review of data from a randomized controlled trial, we studied timing of penetration events as they related to aspiration and oral/pharyngeal residue.

Retrospective review of a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

In total, 168 patients who were >3 months postradiation received baseline modified barium swallow evaluations. Retrospective analyses of data from these exams were studied, including Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) scores and timing of these events (before, during, or after the swallow), as well as percentage of oral and pharyngeal residue.

Aspiration occurred more frequently after than before or during the swallow (P < .05). There were significantly more events of penetration that led to aspiration after the swallow (n = 260) when compared to events before (n = 6) or after (n = 81) the swallow. There was more pharyngeal (16%-25%) than oral residue (5%-20%). Weak correlations were found between thin liquid, nectar-thick liquid, pudding residue, and PAS scores, with varying significance (pharyngeal residue/PAS r: .26*, .35*, .07*; oral residue/PAS r: .21*, .16, .3; *P < .05).

The predominant pattern for this sample of postradiation patients with HNC with dysphagia was aspiration that occurred after the swallow, rather than before or during the swallow. The aspiration was directly caused by penetration events that occurred during the swallow, resulting in aspiration as the airway reopened. Patients demonstrated more pharyngeal residue than oral residue, but a weak relationship was found between residue and penetration/aspiration events. These results guide clinicians in targeting appropriate swallowing interventions.