Functional Electrical Stimulation in Irradiated Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC)

Efficacy of Functional Electrical Stimulation in Dysphagia of Nasopharyngeal Cancer Post Radiotherapy

The purpose of this study is to determine whether functional electrical stimulation is effective in the treatment of dysphagia due to nasopharyngeal cancer post radiotherapy

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients usually underwent radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy(CRT). There were some complications caused by RT, like dysphagia.

In recent studies, functional electrical stimulation (FES) was be used in neurologically dysphagia patients, and there were some positive effects with these studies. Hence, we decided applied FES to these NPC patients with dysphagia.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma
• Post radiation therapy
• Mild to severe dysphagia
• Never underwent swallowing therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

• Recurrent cancer
• Neurological or degenerate disease
• Total or partial laryngectomy
• Epilepsy
• With cardiac pacemaker