Effectiveness of lipofilling in patients with impaired speech and/or swallowing function after treatment for head and neck cancer

Treatment for head and neck cancer can lead to long-term functional impairments
such as dysphagia and speech problems. In this case, patients the patient
receives intensive therapy including behavioral swallowing rehabilitation from
the speech language pathologist. However, long-term functional impairment still
occurs in some patients refractory to these rehabilitation techniques.
Dysphagia is accompanied with comorbidity like aspiration pneumonia which, if
left untreated, might result death. When patients with chronic, severe
dysphagia often have no other options left, besides in some cases a functional
total laryngectomy in which the airway and upper digestive tract are separated,
lipofilling can be of potential value as *last resort* treatment. However,
results regarding short- and long-term effectiveness are lacking.

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of
lipofilling in treatment of speech and swallowing impairment after treatment
for head and neck cancer. The secondary objective is to evaluate the effect of
lipofilling on tongue (base) volume, feasibility and patient*s satisfaction.

Observational cohort study

Lipofilling is a procedure wheren autologous fat is transplanted from the
abdominal wall/thigh to throat/oral cavity.

The experimental nature of the treatment will be discussed in detail with the
patient. The burden of this study consists of the possible complication of the
procedure (which are expected to be low after experience with previous treated
patients), as well as the time burden and minimal radiation risk of the
videofluoroscopy.