Abstract: Purpose: The changes in gustatory function resulting from oncological treatment occur mainly after radiotherapy. However, the head and neck tumors, because of the anatomical location of the lesion, can themselves trigger significant changes in the feeding-related functions - including taste. To assess the gustatory function in patients diagnosed with advanced oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer. Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study comprised 31 individuals with advanced oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer, referred for oncological treatment with radiotherapy, either alone or in combination with chemotherapy. The “taste strips” test was applied; it consists of inserting solutions with four different concentrations each for salty, sweet, and sour tastes, and three concentrations for the bitter taste, on the tongue. Results: Most of the individuals were diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer. Approximately half of the sample already had taste-related complaints, and more than 80%, swallowing-related complaints. The overall frequency of hypogeusia was 38.7%, in which the bitter taste stood out in its isolated assessment. The association of change in gustatory function proved to be significant in patients in stage T4. Conclusion: The decrease in gustatory function in individuals with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer was evidenced in this study, especially when associated with tumors in stage T4. Regarding feeding, most of them reported complaints of dysphagia, suggesting the importance of the speech-language-hearing assessment and follow-up, even before the oncological treatment, to minimize the risks of dysphagia.

Abstract: Purpose: The changes in gustatory function resulting from oncological treatment occur mainly after radiotherapy. However, the head and neck tumors, because of the anatomical location of the lesion, can themselves trigger significant changes in the feeding-related functions - including taste. To assess the gustatory function in patients diagnosed with advanced oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer. Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study comprised 31 individuals with advanced oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer, referred for oncological treatment with radiotherapy, either alone or in combination with chemotherapy. The “taste strips” test was applied; it consists of inserting solutions with four different concentrations each for salty, sweet, and sour tastes, and three concentrations for the bitter taste, on the tongue. Results: Most of the individuals were diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer. Approximately half of the sample already had taste-related complaints, and more than 80%, swallowing-related complaints. The overall frequency of hypogeusia was 38.7%, in which the bitter taste stood out in its isolated assessment. The association of change in gustatory function proved to be significant in patients in stage T4. Conclusion: The decrease in gustatory function in individuals with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer was evidenced in this study, especially when associated with tumors in stage T4. Regarding feeding, most of them reported complaints of dysphagia, suggesting the importance of the speech-language-hearing assessment and follow-up, even before the oncological treatment, to minimize the risks of dysphagia.

RESUMO Objetivo: verificar as implicações na voz e na deglutição em pacientes com diagnóstico de tumores localizados no mediastino. Métodos: o estudo foi realizado em 21 indivíduos com idades entre 18 e 60 anos, com diagnóstico de tumores localizado no mediastino. A coleta de dados foi realizada nos ambulatórios de Oncologia Clínica, OncoHematologia e Cirurgia Torácica Oncológica, e nas enfermarias das clínicas acima mencionadas de um hospital de referência em Oncologia. Os dados foram obtidos por meio da aplicação de um questionário próprio para a pesquisa, e da avaliação da voz e da deglutição, por meio dos protocolos CAPE-V e O’Neil, respectivamente. Resultados: houve maior prevalência do sexo feminino com média de idade aos 40 anos. Observou maior prevalência de tumores na região anterior do mediastino e dos linfomas do tipo não Hodgkin, no entanto, os linfomas do tipo Hodgkin apresentaram piores resultados em todos os parâmetros da avaliação de voz. Quanto à disfagia, 14 sujeitos apresentaram algum grau de disfagia, compreendendo da disfagia discreta a moderada. Conclusão: pacientes com tumores no mediastino apresentam comprometimentos significantes nas funções de voz e deglutição, principalmente nos tumores localizadas na região anterior do mediastino e Linfomas do tipo Hodgkin.

ABSTRACT Purpose: to verify voice and swallowing implications in patients diagnosed with tumors in the mediastinum. Methods: the study was carried out with 21 individuals aged between 18 and 60 years, with a diagnosis of tumors in their mediastinum. Data collection was performed at Oncology, OncoHematology and Thoracic Oncology Surgery ambulatory, and in the wards of the aforementioned clinics at an oncology reference hospital. The data was obtained by applying a questionnaire, and by evaluating voice and swallowing, using CAPE-V and O'Neil protocols, respectively. Results: there was a higher prevalence of females with mean age at 40 years. A higher prevalence of tumors in the anterior region of the mediastinum and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas was found, however, Hodgkin's lymphomas presented worse results in all the parameters of the voice evaluation. Fourteen subjects presented some degree of dysphagia, ranging from mild to moderate. Conclusion: patients with tumors in the mediastinum have significant impairments in voice and swallowing functions, especially when they are located in the anterior mediastinal region and Hodgkin lymphomas.

Introduction  The child who chronically breathes through the mouth may develop a weakness of the respiratory muscles. Researchers and clinical are seeking for methods of instrumental evaluation to gather complementary data to clinical evaluations. With this in mind, it is important to evaluate breathing muscles in the child with Mouth Breathing. Objective  To develop a review to investigate studies that used evaluation methods of respiratory muscle strength in mouth breathers. Data Synthesis   The authors were unanimous in relation to manovacuometry method as a way to evaluate respiratory pressures in Mouth Breathing children. Two of them performed with an analog manovacuometer and the other one, digital. The studies were not evaluated with regard to the method efficacy neither the used instruments. Conclusion  There are few studies evaluating respiratory muscle strength in Mouth Breathing people through manovacuometry and the low methodological rigor of the analyzed studies hindered a reliable result to support or refuse the use of this technique.