Nutritional concepts and considerations in head and neck surgery

Assessment and correction of malnutrition is a major contribution to the improvements in the pre- and postoperative management of patients with head and neck cancer over the past 20 years. These patients are often in a poor nutritional status and thereby are at a higher operative risk secondary to the local and systemic effects of the tumor and its treatment. This article reviews current data emphasizing preoperative nutritional assessment, modalities available for nutritional therapy in head and neck cancer patients, and indications for perioperative use of these modalities.