Efficacy of Acupuncture in Radiotherapy-induced Dysphagia in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients must have received radiation therapy for histologically confirmed head and neck cancer;
2. Prior irradiation \>/= 6 months prior to study entry;
3. Age\>/= 18 years;
4. Routine laboratory studies with bilirubin \</=2 \* upper limits of normal (ULN), aspartate aminotransferase (AST or SGOT) \< 2 \* ULN, creatinine \<1.5 \* ULN, red-cell count \>/= 4,000 per cubic millimeter; white-cell count \>/=1500 per cubic millimeter, platelets \>/= 75,000 per cubic millimeter; PT, APTT, INR in a normal range;
5. Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent document, or constant caregivers who well understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Evidence of metastatic disease or tumor recurrence, tumor invasion to major vessels (e.g. the carotid);
2. Evidence of very high intracranial pressure that suggests brain hernia and need surgery;
3. History of seizures or bleeding related to tumor or radiotherapy during or after the completion of radiation;
4. History of coagulation defects or allergy history of contrast agent;
5. History of disorder that affects swallowing, including brain stroke, oral or throat disease, malignances diseases, infection of the nervous system, demyelinating disease, neurodegenerative disease, advanced dementia, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, HIV infection, familial degenerative peripheral neuropathy;
6. Severe complications: 1) New York heart association grade II or greater congestive heart failure; 2) Serious and inadequately controlled cardiac arrhythmia; 3) Significant vascular disease (e.g. aortic aneurysm, history of aortic dissection); 4) Clinically significant peripheral vascular disease; 5) significant uncontrolled life-threatening infection;
7. Prior use of acupuncture for dysphagia;
8. Enrolled in other clinical trials.