A European survey on the practice of nutritional interventions in head–neck cancer patients undergoing curative treatment with radio(chemo)therapy

Abstract

Abstract Purpose As the practice of nutritional support in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) during curative radio(chemo)therapy is quite heterogeneous, we carried out a survey among European specialists. Methods A 19-item questionnaire was drawn up and disseminated via the web by European scientific societies involved in HNC and nutrition. Results Among 220 responses, the first choice was always for the enteral route; naso-enteral tube feeding was preferred to gastrostomy in the short term, while the opposite for period longer than 1 month. Indications were not solely related to the patient’s nutritional status, but also to the potential burden of the therapy. Conclusion European HNC specialists contextualize the use of the nutritional support in a comprehensive plan of therapy. There is still uncertainty relating to the role of naso-enteral feeding versus gastrostomy feeding in patients requiring < 1 month nutritional support, an issue that should be further investigated.