Indications for hyperalimentation in the treatment of head and neck malignancies

Patients with cancer of the head and neck are often malnourished when first seen by the treating physician. Often, oncologic therapeutic techniques of surgical intervention or radiotherapy or chemotherapy (or combinations thereof) compound this poor nutritional state. Proper evaluation of the patient's nutritional status and the anticipated metabolic stress of the treatment chosen can allow the physician to select the optimal method of nutritional repletion.