Atuação fonoaudiológica em pacientes com câncer de esôfago submetidos a tratamento radioterápico: Série de casos / Speech therapy performance in patients with esophagus cancer receiving radiotherapy treatment: A case series / Actuación fonoaudiológica en pacientes con cáncer de esófago en radioterapia: Serie de casos

Introdução: A atuação fonoaudiológica na disfagia decorrente do câncer de esôfago ainda é recente. Não foi encontrado até o momento, estudos que descrevam a atuação fonoaudiológica em pacientes com câncer de esôfago submetidos a radioterapia. Sendo assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo descrever a atuação fonoaudiológica em pacientes com câncer de esôfago, submetidos a tratamento radioterápico com queixa de disfagia. Métodos: Trata-se de uma série de cinco casos, que receberam acompanhamento fonoaudiológico ambulatorial. Os pacientes foram avaliados por meio de avaliação clínica da deglutição, classificação do grau de alteração de deglutição com aplicação de escala visual analógica e protocolos de qualidade de vida utilizados na área da oncologia. Foram submetidos ainda a uma abordagem terapêutica para deglutição. Resultados: Os pacientes obtiveram melhora da deglutição, apresentando, ao término do tratamento, diminuição dos sintomas de disfagia, possibilidade de ingesta de alimentos via oral e melhora da qualidade de vida. Conclusão: A fonoterapia, compreendendo a avaliação clínica da deglutição, seguida de treino da deglutição e exercício miofuncional para abertura do esfíncter esofágico superior (Shaker), auxiliou na reabilitação da disfagia esofágica.

Introduction: Speech therapy performance in dysphagia resulting from esophageal cancer is still a recent subject. To date, there are no studies describing the speech therapy performance of patients with esophageal cancer undergoing radiotherapy. For this reason, the aim of this study was to describe speech therapy performance in patients with esophageal cancer receiving radiotherapy treatment and with complaints of dysphagia. Methods: This is a series of five cases, with patients that received outpatient speech therapy. The patients were assessed using clinical swallowing evaluation, classification of the degree of swallowing alteration with application of visual analog scale and quality of life protocols used in oncology. They also underwent a therapeutic approach to swallowing. Results: The patients' swallowing was improved and, at the end of the treatment, there were reduced symptoms of dysphagia, possibility of oral intake of food and improved quality of life. Conclusions: Speech therapy, comprising the clinical assessment of the swallowing function, followed by swallowing training and myofunctional exercise to open the upper esophageal sphincter, supported the rehabilitation of esophageal dysphagia.

Introducción: La actuación fonoaudiológica en disfagia decurrente de cáncer del esófago es todavía reciente. Hasta ahora, no se han encontrado estudios que describan la actuación fonoaudiológica en pacientes con cáncer de esófago sometidos a radioterapia. De esta forma, este trabajo tuvo como objetivo describir la actuación del fonoaudiologo en pacientes con cáncer de esófago sometidos a tratamiento de radioterapia con queja de disfagia.Métodos: Esta es una serie de cinco casos, que recibieron terapia fonoaudiologica en ambulatorio. Los pacientes fueron evaluados mediante evaluación clínica de deglución, clasificación del nivel de alteración de la deglución con aplicación de escala visual analógica y protocolos de calidad de vida utilizados en el área de oncología. También fueron sometidos a un enfoque terapéutico para la deglución. Resultados: Los pacientes mejoraron su deglución, presentando, al final del tratamiento, una reducción en los síntomas de disfagia, la posibilidad de ingesta de alimentos por vía oral y una mejora en la calidad de vida. Conclusión: La terapia fonoaudiologica, que comprende la evaluación clínica de deglución, seguida del entrenamiento de deglución y ejercicio miofuncional para abrir el esfínter esofágico superior, ayudó en la rehabilitación de la disfagia esofágica.

High serum superoxide dismutase activity improves radiation-related quality of life in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in China. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy and volume-modulated arc therapy have become the main treatments for esophageal carcinoma; however, side effects caused by radiotherapy greatly impact the quality of life in these patients. This study aimed to explore the impact of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels on the prognosis of patients with ESCC undergoing radiotherapy. METHODS: Patients aged between 18 and 80 years with lower-middle ESCC who underwent radiotherapy were eligible for this assessment. Adverse events, responses, treatment outcomes, and overall survival (OS) were assessed. Between 2012 and 2014, 195 patients were enrolled, of which 65 were assigned to the low- and high-SOD groups based on their serum SOD values. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups, except for the T staging. Adverse events in the low-SOD group were significantly higher than those in the high-SOD group (radiation esophagitis, p=0.007; radiation pneumonitis, p=0.032; leukopenia, p=0.023; thrombocytopenia, p=0.037; anemia, p=0.041). There were no significant differences in response, treatment outcomes, or OS. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, high serum SOD activity improved post-radiotherapy quality of life but did not impact the prognosis of patients with ESCC. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report that serum SOD activity is associated with radiation-induced toxicity and moderately increased radiotherapeutic response in patients with ESCC undergoing radiotherapy.

Braquiterapia intraluminar de alta taxa de dose: uma nova perspectiva no tratamento do câncer do esôfago / Intraluminal high-dose-rate brachytherapy: a new perspective on treatment of esophageal cancer

Braquiterapia com microfonte radioativa operada por controle remoto comandado por computador trouxe nova perspectiva no tratamento intraluminar de vários tumores. Este relato apresenta a experiência preliminar do Serviço de Braquiterapia do Departamento de Radioterapia do Hospital A.C. Camargo no tratamento do carcinoma de esôfago com braquiterapia de alta taxa de dose. A técnica utiliza a inserção de um aplicador esofágico sob videoendoscopia após a radioterapia externa. Três inserções de 6 Gy, em intervalo de duas semanas, iniciando-se 15 dias após radioterapia externa com 54 Gy em 30 frações, são empregadas para os tratamentos curativos. Nos tratamentos paliativos, duas inserções de 7,5 Gy, com uma semana de intervalo, são utilizadas e a dose de radioterapia externa limita-se a 40 Gy em 20 frações. A extensão do esôfago a ser tratada é determinada pelo esofagograma e pela reação actínica residual após a radioterapia externa, detectável à endoscopia de controle, com margem de 2 cm. O cálculo da dose se faz a 10 mm do centro do cateter. De janeiro/93 a dezembro/94, 100 procedimentos foram realizados em 35 pacientes. Vinte e cinco foram tratados com intenção curativa e dez, com intenção paliativa. A idade variou dos 43 aos 82 anos (mediana de 64 anos), com predominância do sexo masculino (9:1). A braquiterapia foi bem tolerada e realizada em caráter ambulatorial. Reações agudas, representadas por esofagite transitória, ocorreram em todos os pacientes. Reações tardias, como fístulas e estenoses, foram observadas em 16 por cento e 40 por cento dos casos, respectivamente. A sobrevida média foi de oito meses para os tratamentos curativos e de quatro meses para os paliativos. Capacidade de alimentação por via oral se manteve em 85 por cento dos pacientes até o óbito. Os resultados preliminares concluem que o procedimento é seguro, prático e efetivo, e deve ser estimulado na abordagem terapêutica multidisciplinar do carcinoma do esôfago.

Acompanhamento nutricional de pacientes em radioterapia / Nutritional assistance to patients during radiotherapy

With the aim of assessing the possible benefits of nutritional therapy, 140 patients were prospectively studied during radiotherapy of the head and neck (81) and esophageal cancer (19). Mean age was 56.0 (17-80), with 114 males and 26 females. Duration of both nutrition and radiotherapy was 78.0 +/- 45 days. Tube feeding was the primary modality in 50.7 of the population, and oral regimens in the remaining 49.3, but associations between the methods were also used. Enteral diets were supplied under the supervision of a specialized tem for home alimentation (PROSNED). Compliance to the program was 100, and a lymphocyte count diminished along this period (1933 +/- 1033 vs 1265 +/- 688, p. 0.001). A subjective improvement was reported by 84 of the population, and total calorie intake, that was below 60 of estimated needs in 100 of the cases initially, significantly improved to just 40 inadequate at the end of the observations. Radiotherapy was associated with mucositis in 21 of the patients, taste changes in 79, xerostomy in 81, anorexia in 66 and odinophagia in 59. In the individuals selected for enteral feeding, side-effects were represented by technical problems (20) and gastrointestinal disorders (13). All patients completed the nutritional support program and there was no mortality in this series. It is concluded that; 1) Early nutritional support during radiotherapy was able to maintain or improve the nutritional status; 2) Tube feeding, alone or in combination with oral diets, was indicated whenever appropriate and contributed to fulfillment of the energy requirements; 3) Reduction of total lymphocytes could not be prevented by the mentioned therapy; 4) Complications of enteral alimentation were mild and affected a small proportion of the population; 5) Troubles induced by radiotherapy were as frequent as expected, and tended to disturb the intake of food; 6) The compliance to the therapeutic plan was excellent and can be attributed to the efforts of the multidisciplinary team as well as to the help of the specialized home alimentation unit (PROSNED): Diet therapy. Cancer. Nutritional assessment. Radiotherapy. Nutritional support.