Xerostomia, salivary characteristics and gland volumes following intensity-modulated radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma: two year follow-up.

Xerostomia, salivary characteristics and gland volumes following intensity-modulated radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma: two year follow-up.

Aust Dent J. 2018 Mar 23;:

Authors: Sim CPC, Soong YL, Pang EPP, Lim C, Walker GD, Manton DJ, Reynolds EC, Wee JTS

Abstract
BACKGROUND: To evaluate changes in xerostomia status, salivary characteristics and gland volumes two years following radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.
METHODS: Xerostomia scores, salivary flow rates, pH and buffering capacity were measured at pre-radiotherapy, mid-radiotherapy, two-weeks, three-months and two-years post-radiotherapy. Salivary gland volumes and their correlation with radiation dose were also assessed.
RESULTS: Mean radiation dose to oral cavity, parotid and submandibular glands was 44.5, 65.0 and 38.6 Gy respectively. Parotid and submandibular gland volumes decreased 33% at three months post-radiotherapy (p<0.001); volumes at two years post-radiotherapy were 84% (p=0.005) and 51% (p<0.001) of pre-radiotherapy levels, respectively. Correlations were observed between parotid gland volume percent reduction and its radiation dose (r=0.531, p=0.003) and between resting salivary flow rate reduction and post-radiotherapy/pre-radiotherapy submandibular gland volume ratio (r=-0.518, p=0.048). Salivary flow rates and resting saliva pH remained significantly low at two years post-radiotherapy: both flow rates (p=0.001); resting saliva pH (p=0.005). Similarly, xerostomia scores remained significantly higher compared with pre-radiotherapy levels (p=0.003).
CONCLUSION: Submandibular gland volumetric shrinkage persisted two years after radiotherapy. Xerostomia scores remained significantly higher, and salivary flow rates and resting saliva pH remained significantly lower, suggesting that study participants were still at risk for hyposalivation-related oral diseases. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID: 29569726 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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