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Review
. 2013 Nov;88(2):459-76.
doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2013.06.003. Epub 2013 Jul 4.

Malnutrition assessment in patients with cancers of the head and neck: a call to action and consensus

Tanadech Dechaphunkul  1 , Lisa Martin, Cathy Alberda, Karin Olson, Vickie Baracos, Leah Gramlich
Affiliations
Review

Malnutrition assessment in patients with cancers of the head and neck: a call to action and consensus

Tanadech Dechaphunkul et al. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2013 Nov.

Abstract

Purpose of research: A state of the science review to assess how nutritional status and malnutrition are defined by the community of researchers studying head & neck cancer (HNC) patients.

Principal results: In 117 publications, nutritional status was described diversely, ranging from merely one to all six of the following features: weight loss, body composition, quantity/type of food intake, symptoms impacting oral intake, inflammation and altered metabolism. Methods of assessment of each feature were inconsistent. Cancer- and treatment-related symptoms impacting oral intake were a prominent theme. Metabolic changes potentially related to weight loss and efficacy of nutritional therapy were rarely described (<15% of articles). There were 24 different explicit definitions for malnutrition.

Conclusion: Consensus is needed regarding the criteria to adequately describe HNC-associated malnutrition. Standardization of assessments will permit aggregation of data, and integration into clinical practice-specifically, development of consensus criteria for implementation and termination of nutrition therapies.

Keywords: Assessment; Cachexia; Head and neck cancer; Malnutrition; Nutrition; Nutrition support.

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