Xerostomia: 12-month changes in saliva production and its relationship to perception and performance of swallow function, oral intake, and diet after chemoradiation.
BACKGROUND
Previous investigators have found permanent changes in saliva production after chemoradiation but have not examined these in relation to swallowing measures, diet changes, and patient comfort over time.


METHODS
Thirty patients with advanced stage cancer of the oropharynx treated with chemoradiation were followed with videofluoroscopic swallow studies, a measure of stimulated total saliva production, a questionnaire of their perception of dry mouth, and a questionnaire on the nature of their oral intake at pretreatment until 12 months after treatment.


RESULTS
Saliva declined significantly from pretreatment to 12 months. Swallowing-related complaints increased significantly over the 12 months, especially in patients with lower saliva weights. Diet choices increased over time after treatment, except crunchy foods. Swallow measures did not relate to saliva weight.


CONCLUSIONS
Reduced saliva weight does not correlate with slowed or inefficient swallow. Instead, reduced saliva weight seems to change patients' perceptions of their swallowing ability and, on that basis, their diet choices.
Logemann
Jeri A
JA
Northwestern University, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, 2299 N Campus Drive, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA. j-logemann@northwestern.edu
Pauloski
Barbara Roa
BR
Rademaker
Alfred W
AW
Lazarus
Cathy L
CL
Mittal
Bharat
B
Gaziano
Joy
J
Stachowiak
Linda
L
MacCracken
Ellen
E
Newman
Lisa A
LA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology*