[Dysphagia in patients with head and neck cancer: screening and diagnosis]

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is often a consequence of head and neck cancer. It increases morbidity and mortality and thus influences the oncological outcome of the affected person. Therefore, modern oncological care of patients with head and neck tumors includes standardized dysphagia management. Early identification and diagnosis of a swallowing disorder are mandatory. The procedures can follow a two-stage approach: first, evidence-based screening to identify high-risk patients; second, instrumental swallowing diagnostic tests to scrutinize the individual pathophysiology as a relevant basis for management and rehabilitation. This review presents the current evidence on screening procedures for swallowing disorders in patients with head and neck cancer as well as an overview of established and innovative instrumental diagnostic methods.