Tumor size and pretreatment speech and swallowing in patients with resectable tumors

The pretreatment relationship of tumor burden to speech and swallowing func tion in 230 patients with oral or oropharyngeal cancer before surgery was a ssessed. Reduced articulation, reduced conversational understandability, or self-reported dysphagia were present in at least 34% of patients before tr eatment. Videofluoroscopy showed at least 9% of patients had reduced swallo wing efficiency on liquid, paste, or cookie boluses. By use of regression t echniques, the percentages of the oral tongue and of the anterior floor of mouth affected by neoplasm were found to be significantly related to reduce d articulation; T stage and the percentage of the oral tongue affected with tumor were mildly related to reduced understandability; tumor volume and h aving soft palate affected by neoplasm were significantly related to self-r eported dysphagia; and percentages of effected oral tongue and of affected tongue base were significantly related to reduced swallowing efficiency. Tu mor burden may contribute to functional deficits at diagnosis in patients w ho have resectable tumors.