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Background The purpose of this study was to determine whether head and neck‐specific health status domains are distinct from those assessed by general measures of quality‐of‐life (QOL). Methods Cross‐sectional study of 55 head and neck cancer patients in tertiary academic center was made. Three head and neck‐specific measures,‐including the Head & Neck Survey (H& NS); a brief, multi‐item test which generates domain scores; and a general health measure,‐were administered. Results The H& NS was highly reliable and more strongly correlated to the specific measures than to the general measure. Eating/swallowing (ES) and speech/communication (SC) were not well correlated with general health domains. Head and neck pain was highly correlated to general bodily pain (0.88, p < .0001). Despite correlations to some general health domains, appearance (AP) was not fully reflected by any other domain. Conclusions Head and neck‐specific QOL measures are necessary and should include domains that reflect ES, SC, and AP. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 19:474–480, 1997.

The incidence of late dysphagia is similar in IMRT and CRT, but the mechanism of dysphagia is different.

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