Radiation Associated Dysphagia (RAD) Part 1: Etiology and Toxicity

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First Chapter Free Buy Course

This course, with Dr. Kate Hutcheson, is the first of a two part series for speech language pathologists covering radiation associated dysphagia, or RAD. In this installment, Dr. Hutcheson begins by describing the development of contemporary methods of head and neck radiotherapy. This course also provides background on head and neck cancers, and the role of radiotherapy in treating those conditions. This course will cover patterns of toxicities and the pathophysiology of RAD including variations during the acute, chronic, and late stages.

Meet your instructor

Kate Hutcheson

Kate A. Hutcheson, is an assistant professor in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery and associate director of research in the Section of Speech Pathology and Audiology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Hutcheson graduated magna cum laude from Baylor University. She earned a master of science in…

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Chapters & learning objectives

1. Head and Neck Radio Therapy

The first chapter of this course introduces the participant to head and neck cancers and the role of radiotherapy in management of head and neck cancers. Dr. Hutcheson describes contemporary methods of delivering head and neck radiotherapy, and explains how these methods are implemented for specific specific tumor locations.

2. Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events

In this chapter, Dr. Hutcheson describes patterns of acute toxicity associated with head and neck cancer radiotherapy. Specific toxicities addressed include mucositis, odynophagia, lymphedema, and effects on salivary responses and the teeth.

3. Radiation Associated Dysphagia

The final chapter of this course focuses on the pathophysiology of RAD, including acute RAD, chronic RAD, and late Rad. The characteristics of each type of RAD are shown in detail using case examples.

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