Persistent Dysphagia after Head and Neck Radiotherapy: A Common and Under-reported Complication with Significant Effect on Non-cancer-related Mortality

Persistent dysphagia is a prevalent, under-recognised and under-reported long-term complication of head and neck radiotherapy which currently cannot be predicted on the basis of patient, tumour or treatment characteristics. Aspiration pneumonia is an important contributor to non-cancer-related mortality in these patients. These data highlight the need for closer monitoring of swallow dysfunction and its sequelae in this population.