P1031 - POST-THERAPEUTIC NUTRITIONAL APPROACH IN CHILDREN TREATED WITH CHEMORADIOTHERAPY FOR NASOPHARYNGEAL CANCER

P1031

POST-THERAPEUTIC NUTRITIONAL APPROACH IN CHILDREN TREATED WITH CHEMORADIOTHERAPY FOR NASOPHARYNGEAL CANCER

R. Chakir¹, S. ichou¹, S. harbaj^1,2, I. Lahlali¹, L. amine¹, N. karima¹, H. El¹, T. kebdani^1,*, K. Hassouni¹

¹radiation therapy, national institute of oncology, ²Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Rabat, Mohammed V univeristy, rabat, Morocco

 

Rationale: Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) in children is commonly treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT), which can significantly impact nutritional status due to treatment-related side effects such as mucositis, dysphagia, and chemotherapy-induced nausea. Post-treatment malnutrition remains a concern, with delayed recovery in some cases. This study aims to evaluate the post-therapeutic nutritional management in children following CRT for NPC.

 

Methods: A retrospective  study was conducted at the National Institute of Oncology in Rabat, in the departement of radiation therapy including 30 pediatric patients,  between january 2021 and january 2024 ; who completed CRT for NPC

Nutritional status was monitored through weight BMI, and dietary intake at 1, 3, and 6 months post-treatment. 

Results: 30% of children exhibited moderate to severe malnutrition one month post-treatment.

At 3 months,  47% showed a return to baseline weight or better. 40% of children experienced delayed oral intake due to persistent dysphagia, and 25% had continued difficulty with nausea/vomiting. 60% of children received nutritional support, with 25% requiring enteral nutrition for a short duration.

Multidisciplinary management (including dietitians and speech therapists) was associated with faster recovery in 70% of the cases, particularly in those with severe malnutrition.

At 6 months, the majority of patients showed a good recovery and had returned to the normal weight

 

Conclusion: Post-therapeutic nutritional support is critical for the recovery of children treated with CRT for nasopharyngeal cancer. A structured, multidisciplinary approach improves recovery outcomes, emphasizing the need for early and ongoing nutritional interventions. Future studies should explore long-term follow-up strategies and the effectiveness of individualized nutritional plans.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared