Nutritional screening and assessment in cancer-associated malnutrition

Most cancer patients develop clinical malnutrition, especially in gastrointestinal tract cancer, head and neck region cancer and lung cancer. The patients in whom the nutritional recommendations are lower than those who are outpatientc, and increased in thoce hospitalized and even more in those receiving home-based care. Malnutrition negatively affects patients' response to therapy, incbeases the incidence of treatment-related side effects and can decrease survival. Early identification of patients who are mal-nourished or at risk of malnutrition can promote recovery and improve prognosis. The development and use of screening and assessment tools is essential for effective nutritional intervention and management of patients with cancer. SGA, MNA and PG-SGA can be used in patients with cancer. Compare to anthropometry, screening and assessment tools are better indicator of disease-related malnutrition, for they can better predict hospital-related outcomes. PG-SGA is the best screening and assessment tool because of its high sensibility and specificity.