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- Title
Treatment of radiation-induced xerostomia in patients with head and neck malignancies – a preliminary study.
- Authors
ZYGULSKA, Aneta L.; SŁOWIK, Agnieszka; KONOPKA, Kamil; MICHAŁOWSKA-KACZMARCZYK, Anna; KUCHARZ, Jakub; KRZEMIENIECKI, Krzysztof
- Abstract
Background: Radiation-induced xerostomia is a common complaint giving a number of negative implications among patients treated for head and neck malignancies. The aim of this study was to verify if administration of artificial saliva tablets (up to 16 per day) from the first day of radiotherapy (as a preventive measure) provided better outcomes than the same treatment initiated after clinical manifestation of radiation-induced xerostomia (as a symptomatic treatment). Material and Methods: The study included 40 consecutive patients with head and neck malignancies subjected to radical/adjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy at the Department of Oncology, University Hospital in Krakow (Poland) between January 2012 and May 2016. The patients were randomized to one of two groups, receiving artificial saliva tablets as a preventive measure, from the first day of radiation treatment (group A), or as a symptomatic treatment, after clinical manifestation of radiationinduced xerostomia (group B). The efficacy of both approaches was assessed with the Xerostomia Questionnaire (XQ), on the first day of radiation therapy, 3 and 6 weeks thereafter, as well as after 2 and 6 months of postradiotherapy follow-up. Results: The study groups did not differ significantly in terms of their responses to most questions included in the XQ. However, at 3 weeks of radiotherapy, the scores assigned to the statement “My dry mouth makes my worry" turned out to be significantly higher in patients from group B than in individuals from group A. Conclusions: Patients from both groups assessed the anti-xerostomia therapy as effective, individuals who received artificial saliva as a symptomatic treatment reported more evident relief.
- Subjects
XEROSTOMIA; ARTIFICIAL saliva; HEAD &; neck cancer treatment; RADIOTHERAPY; HEAD &; neck cancer patients; PHYSIOLOGICAL effects of radiation; HEALTH outcome assessment; THERAPEUTICS
- Publication
Review of Medicine / Przeglad Lekarski, 2018, Issue 2, p57
- ISSN
0033-2240
- Publication type
Article