Observation on Efficacy of Tongue Acupuncture Combined with Ultrasound Therapy in Patients with Swallowing Disorders after Radiotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
GU Xiaojuan
XIE Yuwei
LI Meng
ZUO Xiaona
WANG Jia
LIU Xin
HE Wei
Abstract：Objective:To study the effect of tongue acupuncture therapy combined with ultrasound on swallowing function of patients with dysphagia after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods:Sixty patients with dysphagia after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma who visited Cangzhou Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital from January 2022 to May 2023 were selected and randomly divided into the control group(conventional rehabilitation and ultrasound treatment)and the observation group(conventional rehabilitation,ultrasound therapy,and tongue acupuncture therapy)according to the order of treatment,with 30 cases in each group.The duration of the swallowing period before and after treatment in the two groups of patients was determined by television fluorescence swallowing study(VFSS).The water swallowing test(WST)grades of the two groups of patients before and after treatment were evaluated by using the WST test.The clinical efficacy was valuated based on the changes in WST grades.The swallowing function of the two groups of patients before and after treatment was evaluated by using the Chinese version of the Anderson Dysphagia Scale(MDADI).Results:After treatment,the durations of the oral phase,swallowing reflex,pharyngeal phase,laryngeal closure phase in both groups decreased.Moreover,the observation group were greater than those in the control group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).After treatment,the WST grades of the two groups of patients were better than those before treatment,and the observation group after treatment were better than those of the control group.The clinical efficacy of the observation group after treatment was better than the control group.MDADI score in both groups decreased,the observation group was greater than those in the control group.Conclusions:Tongue acupuncture therapy combined with ultrasound treatment can reduce the time required for swallowing food ball,liquids,and coughing during swallowing in patients with dysphagia after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma,as well as improve the swallowing function and enhance the quality of life.
Keywords：nasopharyngeal carcinomadysphagiatongue acupuncture therapyultrasoundswallowing functiontelevision fluorescence swallowing studywater swallowing test
Publication Date：2026-01-05
Online Publishing Date：2026-05-22(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：6( 58-63 )