Cough, Expiratory Training, and Chronic Aspiration After Head and Neck Radiotherapy

Running, not enrolling · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Head and Neck Cancer

In brief

The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if exercising the muscles that help you cough and swallow, called expiratory muscle strength training (EMST), can help reduce the risk of pneumonia due to aspiration (inhaling saliva instead of swallowing it) in patients who have had radiation for head and neck cancer.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT02662907

Run by

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

People needed

175

Starts

2016-02-01

Expected to finish

2027-02-02

Last updated by the study team

2026-04-16

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age >/= 18 years
• History of curative-intent radiotherapy at MDACC for a new primary H\&N cancer in past 15 years
• Referred to Section of Speech Pathology and Audiology for swallowing evaluation
• Ability to understand and willingness to sign written informed consent

You may not qualify if…

• History of recurrent or second primary H\&N, central nervous system, or thoracic cancer at time of modified barium swallow (MBS) study
• Prior H\&N surgery excluding diagnostic procedures, transoral surgery, or non-radical neck dissection
• History of functionally limiting chronic or acute cardiac, pulmonary, or neuromuscular disease
• Tracheotomy or oxygen dependence at time of MBS
• Patients with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) <24 will be ineligible for participation in the therapeutic trial

Where it is running

• University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center — Houston, Texas, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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