[Nutritional management of patients with head and neck cancer treated with radiation]

Abstract

Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are standard treatment of head and neck cancer alone or associated to surgical treatment. Early (during treatment or the following weeks) and late side effects contribute to malnutrition in this population at risk. In this context, nutritional support adapted by dietary monitoring and enteral nutrition (nasogastric tube or gastrostomy) are often necessary. The early identification of the patients with high malnutrition risk and requiring enteral nutrition is necessary to improve the tolerance and efficacy of treatment.

Keywords: Cancer; Head and neck; Nutrition; Radiotherapy; Radiothérapie; Voies aérodigestives supérieures.