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.
|
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
|
The higher the score, the better the ability of the patient
to function.