QMUS-HNC-RT (version 1.0)

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  An investigation of the feasibility, reliability and acceptability of using of ultrasound to assess muscle echogenicity and size in key speech and swallowing tissues before and after radiotherapy in a head and neck cancer population

• IRAS ID

  342478

• Contact name

  Gemma Clunie

• Contact email

  gemmaclunie@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  Imperial College London

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 0 months, 0 days

• Research summary

  Radiotherapy is regularly used to cure and treat head and neck cancer. It can lead to changes in the structure and function of important muscles used in speech and swallowing, such as those in the tongue, neck, and jaw. Changes start during radiotherapy and can become worse over time, even after treatment finishes. We do not understand exactly when or how these changes happen, or how to treat them. Patients tell us side effects of radiotherapy can be very difficult to live with. This research aims to establish if ultrasound will be helpful in assessing the size and structure of the muscles involved in speech and swallowing in head and neck cancer patients before and after radiotherapy treatment. This will be a small feasibility study of 20 patients.

  The objectives are:
  1. Assess whether ultrasound is a feasible assessment option for looking at the size and structure (echogenicity, a measure of greyscale) of speech and swallowing muscles in patients before and after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.
  2. To investigate whether there is inter- and intra-rater reliability between ultrasound measurements collected for head and neck cancer
  3. To assess whether use of ultrasound is acceptable to head and neck cancer patients
  4. To begin to explore change in muscle structure an size pre- and post-radiotherapy depending on the success of the primary objective

  The expected benefits are:
  1. Improved understanding of the effects of radiotherapy on the structure and possible link to for function of speech and swallowing muscles in head and neck cancer patients
  2. Potential for early identification of muscle changes using ultrasound imaging. This will enable targeted rehabilitation exercises for patients that may slow down any deterioration in how the muscles are working.

• REC name

  West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  24/WM/0224

• Date of REC Opinion

  2 Dec 2024

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion