Precision rehabilitation for swallowing dysfunction after radiotherapy in head and neck cancer: current evidence, key controversies, and future perspectives

The field of dysphagia rehabilitation in HNC is evolving from a one-size- fits-all approach towards precision medicine. Future efforts must focus on developing personalized rehabilitation pathways based on individual risk stratification (e.g., frailty, dose to specific musculature), integrating technology for monitoring and motivation, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among oncologists, speech-language pathologists, and behavioral scientists to bridge the gap between research evidence and lasting functional recovery.