Nutritional status in head and neck cancer patients.

The nutritional status of patients with head and neck cancer has been suspected as being a significant risk factor for surgical complications and cancer recurrence. Clinical dietary assessment was performed on a mixed group of 42 previously untreated, head and neck cancer patients scheduled to receive surgery with curative intent. Cox regression analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between demographic and tumour factors and nutritional status. Nutritional status correlated only with the locoregional stage of disease. A further regression analysis was performed to determine if nutritional status is an independent risk factor for early postoperative complications or recurrence. Nutritional status was not shown to influence surgical outcomes independent of tumour stage. Further study of the relationship between nutritional status and surgical results is required before recommending preoperative hyperalimentation in head and neck cancer patients.