Factors predict gastrostomy tube use after treatment for head and neck cancer

ByAshley Killen

ByThomas J. Gallwoay, MD

Fact checked byMindy Valcarcel, MS

Certain factors may help predict which patients treated for head and neck cancer will require long-term gastrostomy tube use, according to study results.

Age, primary tumor size and smoking history predicted long-term feeding use more than 5 years after treatment completion, findings presented at ASTRO Annual Meeting showed.

Healio spoke with researcher Thomas J. Galloway, MD, chief of the division of head and neck radiation oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center, about the findings and their potential implications — particularly with regard to surveillance and the importance of earlier diagnosis.

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Source:

Galloway TJ, et al. Abstract 282. Presented at: American Society for Radiation Oncology Annual Meeting; Oct. 23-26, 2022; San Antonio.

Disclosures: Galloway reports no relevant financial disclosures.

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Factors predict gastrostomy tube use after treatment for head and neck cancer

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