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CRT (also referred to as organ preservation treatment) ensures optimal loco-regional control and long- term survival for all tumours except laryngeal tumours (Hoffman, Porter et al. 2006, Chen and Halpern 2007, Pignon, Le Maitre et al. 2007). However, it is also known that CRT, despite the fact that it preserves swallowing and speech organs, impairs functions such as swallowing, and as a result negatively affects quality of life (van der Molen, van Rossum et al. 2009, van der Molen, van Rossum et al. 2011, Kraaijenga, van der Molen et al. 2014, Van der Molen, Van Rossum et al. 2014, Kraaijenga, van der Molen et al. 2015). A wide range of studies have investigated the negative effects of CRT (Murry, Madasu et al. 1998, Newman, Vieira et al. 1998, Newman, Robbins et al. 2002, Akst, Chan et al. 2004, Eisbruch, Schwartz et al. 2004). Sequelae of CRT such as pain, oedema, xerostomia and fibrosis negatively affect mouth opening (trismus), chewing, swallowing and speaking (Chen and Halpern 2007). These negative effects are comparible to those of radiotherapy alone, but they are qualitatively and quantitatively more severe.\u000DA systematic review of Van der Molen et al. showed that the swallowing function is usually evaluated with the use of videofluoroscopy and in some cases (also) with FEES (fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing). Upon CRT, patients were found to present with more and more severe swallowing problems than before treatment (van der Molen, van Rossum et al. 2009). Nutrition is often assessed with the use of structured questionnaires (a.o. EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ-HN35, UW-QOL, FACT HN, PSS-HN, see the systematic review by Van der Molen et al. for references) and on the whole the studies report reduced intake during treatment with subsequent recovery over a period of 12 to 18 months. Quality of life is generally measured with a questionnaire and most studies reported significant improvement over time. It can thus be concluded from this review that the majority of studies investigating the effects of CRT point towards swallowing function, nutrition and quality of life as the primary negative effects of the treatment. However, most of the studies report only short-term effects (van der Molen, van Rossum et al. 2009).\u000DStudies investigating the long-term effects of CRT have found that it negatively affects swallowing function and nutritional status in the long run, both of which can be reduced even up to and beyond a year (Hoffman, Porter et al. 2006, Pignon, Le Maitre et al. 2007, van der Molen, van Rossum et al. 2011, Van der Molen, Van Rossum et al. 2014, Kraaijenga, Oskam et al. 2015, Kraaijenga, van der Molen et al. 2015). In particular, CRT is found to impair the anatomic structures involved in swallowing. Several studies have shown that CRT negatively impacts retraction of the tongue base, laryngeal elevation and laryngeal tilting, which causes delayed passage of the bolus and a heightened chance of residual barium and laryngeal aspiration (Newman, Vieira et al. 1998, Eisbruch, Schwartz et al. 2004, Kotz, Costello et al. 2004, Nguyen, Moltz et al. 2004).\u000D5.3.1.1.3 Dysphagia after surgical resection\u000DSurgical resection in the head and neck area results in specific anatomic and neurological disruptions that cause \u2018location-specific\u2019 dysphagia (Kronenberger and Meyers 1994). Problems may occur in both the oral and the pharyngeal phases of deglutition, with a heightened chance of laryngeal aspiration. Patients with a tongue resection, for instance, typically show problems in the oral phase of the swallow. Pauloski et al., however, reported that after resection in the oral cavity problems in the pharyngeal phase of the swallow may also occur (Pauloski, Logemann et al. 1995). However, not only the site, but also the size and the type of reconstruction can influence swallowing function (Pauloski, Logemann et al. 1998, Nicoletti, Soutar et al. 2004). Zuydam et al. investigated swallowing function (assessed with the University of Washington questionnaire, UW-QOL) in 278 patients with cancer of the oral cavity (Zuydam, Lowe et al. 2005). They concluded that the swallowing function was\u000D104\u000D