title: Two-year longitudinal study of parotid salivary flow rates in head and neck cancer patients receiving unilateral neck parotid-sparing radiotherapy treatment.
abstract: Radiotherapy (RT) is a common treatment for head and neck cancers, and frequently causes permanent salivary dysfunction and xerostomia. This 2-year longitudinal study evaluated unstimulated and stimulated parotid flow rates in 11 patients with head and neck cancers who received unilateral neck parotid-sparing RT. The results demonstrated that treated parotid glands had essentially no output up to 2 years post-RT. Alternatively, spared parotid flow rates were indistinguishable from pre-RT values at 1 and 2 years post-RT, and increased slightly over time. Total unstimulated and stimulated parotid flow rates 2 years after completion of RT were similar to pre-RT values, suggesting that spared parotid function may compensate for lost function from treated parotid glands. These results demonstrate that unilateral neck parotid-sparing techniques are effective in preserving contralateral parotid glands up to 2 years after the completion of RT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Pathology, Oncology, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, USA.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Henson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eisbruch
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: D'Hondt
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ship
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism