Dysphagia

Background: Dysphagia requires investigation for upper GI cancer and should be referred to GI services rather than ENT. 

Dysphagia with regurgitation of foodstuffs should be managed as per the regurgitation section

Radiotherapy for head and neck cancer treatment commonly causes dysphagia as a side effect due to tissue damage and fibrosis. These patients will generally receive regular review from their parent Head and Neck team. If having issues or missed follow up appointments, the patient should contact their clinical nurse specialist.

Referral guidance:

Dysphagia in isolation should be referred as USC to gastroenterology as it is indicative of oesophageal pathology.

If additional ENT red flag symptoms exist (as per the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer) then refer to ENT as urgent suspicion of cancer.

Patients with dysphagia after radiotherapy following head and neck cancer treatment should contact their clinical nurse specialist or can be re-referred via SCI gateway by their GP.