title: Major salivary gland function in patients with radiation-induced xerostomia: flow rates and sialochemistry.
abstract: Radiation therapy for cancer of the head and neck region often causes salivary gland dysfunction and xerostomia. Several reports suggest that the submandibular/sublingual (SM/SL) glands may be less radiosensitive than the parotid. The purpose of this study was to evaluate differential radiation effects on the major salivary glands. Fifty patients with radiation-induced xerostomia were evaluated (33 males, 17 females; mean age 52.7). The average total tumor dose was 6034 cGy. Major salivary gland function was compared with that of 50 non-irradiated controls. Salivary flow rates included unstimulated and stimulated flows of both the parotid and SM/SL glands. Sialochemical analyses included total protein, lysozyme, lactoferrin, sodium, chloride, and potassium. All four measures of salivary flow were significantly reduced in patients as compared to controls (p = .0001). Like the parotid, submandibular/sublingual gland dysfunction appears to be radiation dose- and field-dependent. Patients in the lowest radiation dose quartile (< or = 5000 cGy) had significantly increased salivary flow compared to those in the highest dose quartile (> or = 6800 cGy; p = .025). Glands that were partially irradiated were more likely to have some residual function than fully irradiated glands (p = .003). Lactoferrin content was increased in parotid saliva of radiation patients (p = .0001). Chloride content was significantly increased also (p = .0001). The SM/SL glands are clearly dysfunctional in post-irradiation xerostomia patients compared to controls, in terms of both flow rates and sialochemistry.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Investigations and Patient Care Branch, National Institute of Dental Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: I H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Valdez
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ship
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Fox
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology