Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowing Toxicity (DIGEST): Scale development and validation

Katherine A. Hutcheson, Martha P. Barrow, Denise A. Barringer, Jodi K. Knott, Heather Y. Lin, Randal S. Weber, Clifton D. Fuller, Stephen Y. Lai, Clare P. Alvarez, Janhavi Raut, Cathy L. Lazarus, Annette May, Joanne Patterson, Justin W.G. Roe, Heather M. Starmer, Jan S. Lewin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

177 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) is the universal framework for toxicity reporting in oncology trials. The objective of this study was to develop a CTCAE-compatible modified barium swallow (MBS) grade for the purpose of grading pharyngeal dysphagia as a toxicity endpoint in cooperative-group organ-preservation trials for head and neck cancer (HNC). It was hypothesized that a 5-point, CTCAE-compatible MBS grade (Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowing Toxicity [DIGEST]) based on the interaction of pharyngeal residue and laryngeal penetration/aspiration ratings would be feasible and psychometrically sound. METHODS: A modified Delphi exercise was conducted for content validation, expert consensus, and operationalization of DIGEST criteria. Two blinded raters scored 100 MBSs conducted before or after surgical or nonsurgical organ preservation. Intrarater and interrater reliability was tested with weighted κ values.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)62-70
Number of pages9
JournalCancer
Volume123
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2017

Keywords

  • dysphagia
  • head and neck cancer
  • radiation
  • surgery
  • toxicity

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