Role of prophylactic PEG and risk factors for PEG dependency in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.

e17017 Background: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) dependency is a major morbidity associated with radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. There is controversy surrounding prophylactic PEG use and whether it predisposes to worse long-term swallow function and PEG dependency. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of prophylactic PEG on treatment time and weight loss, and to identify risk factors for long-term PEG dependency. Methods: This study included 52 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) to the primary site and bilateral cervical lymph nodes. Data were collected on primary tumor site, stage, age, RT dose, chemotherapy, weight, body mass index (BMI), treatment time, visits with Nutrition, and visits with Swallowing/Speech Pathology. Associations of prophylactic PEG with treatment time (time from initiation to completion of RT) and with weight loss were evaluated. Long-term PEG dependency was defined as placement of a PEG with continued PEG u...