Respiratory muscle function and exercise capacity in a stage 4 head and neck cancer patient receiving chemoradiotherapy

Background: Reduced physical and functional capacity is one of the main treatment-related side effects of chemoradiation therapy in head-and-neck cancer patients. We evaluated a case of a head-and-neck cancer patient who was undergoing chemoradiation and was assessed for various components of cardiopulmonary function that plays a vital role in the treatment prognosis. The aim of this case report was to evaluate the respiratory muscle function and exercise capacity of a head-and-neck cancer patient receiving chemoradiation therapy. Settings and Design: From among the newly diagnosed admitted to the hospital care, a 60-year-old male with supraglottic carcinoma, who was undergoing concomitant chemoradiation for 7 weeks, was evaluated for various components of cardiopulmonary function. Subjects and Methods: Outcomes assessed were diaphragm function (mobility and thickness), maximal inspiratory pressure and maximal expiratory pressure, and 6-min walk test at baseline (pre), after 3 weeks, and after 7 weeks of chemoradiation therapy. The data were quantitatively analyzed to interpret the difference of respiratory muscle function and exercise capacity. Results: Evaluation of these outcomes showed a significant decrease from the baseline till the end of the 7^thweek. Conclusions: Therefore, concomitant chemoradiation therapy substantially decreased the respiratory muscle function and exercise capacity in the head-and-neck cancer patient.