List et al developed a performance scale that could be used to evaluate how well a patient with cancer of the head or neck can do common functions affected by the cancer. The scale can be used to monitor progression of disease and response to treatment. The authors are from the University of Chicago.
NOTE: The performance scale can be used in other diseases affecting the head and neck such as trauma or neurologic diseases.
Common functions evaluated:
(1) eating in public
(2) understandability of speech
(3) normalcy of diet
Parameter |
Performance |
Points |
---|---|---|
eating in public |
no restriction of place, food or companion (can eat out at any opportunity) |
100 |
|
no restriction of place, but restricts diet when in public (eats anywhere but limits diet to foods that can be handled easily like liquids) |
75 |
|
eats only in the presence of selected persons in selected places |
50 |
|
eats only at home in the presence of selected persons |
25 |
|
always eats alone |
0 |
understandability of speech |
always understandable |
100 |
|
understandable most of the time; occasional repetition necessary |
75 |
|
usually understandable; face-to-face contact necessary |
50 |
|
difficult to understand |
25 |
|
never understandable; may use written communication |
0 |
normalcy of diet |
full diet with no restrictions |
100 |
|
peanuts |
90 |
|
all meats |
80 |
|
carrots, celery |
70 |
|
dry bread and crackers |
60 |
|
soft, chewable foods |
50 |
|
soft foods requiring no chewing |
40 |
|
pureed foods |
30 |
|
warm liquids |
20 |
|
cold liquids |
10 |
|
nonoral feeding (tube feeding, etc.) |
0 |
Purpose: To evaluate the performance status of a patient with cancer of the head or neck.
Objective: disability and performance, quality of life
ICD-10: C00-C14, C69-C72, C76.0,