Nutritional Support in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: A Narrative Review

Araneda B, Bravo N, Hirschberg D, Mejias F, Minzer S and Olguin T

Published on: 2024-06-14

Abstract

Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients present with high rates of malnutrition, which is associated with higher morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study is to provide nutritional management guidelines and define interventions for the maintenance and recovery of the nutritional status of HNC patients. We carried out a non-systematic review of the literature from the last 15 years to evaluate the available information about nutritional support for patients with HNC. In this review, we highlight the importance of early nutritional screening and evaluation by a nutritional support team. When available, the oral route is the preferred way of providing nutritional support; nonetheless, oral nutritional supplements should be recommended to patients who do not meet their nutritional requirements exclusively orally. Enteral nutrition is suggested when patients cannot meet their nutritional requirements exclusively by oral route. Access by feeding tube or ostomy and the prophylactic versus reactive enteral route are discussed in detail. Treatment-associated symptoms are of utmost importance during nutritional therapy, so management recommendations are given to health care teams for their daily practice.