title: How should we measure and report radiotherapy-induced xerostomia?
abstract: Xerostomia is commonly measured and graded using objective measures of major salivary gland output and observer-rated toxicity grading. The separation between the different grades is somewhat ambiguous in the current toxicity grading systems. We propose a new grading system based primarily on the functional deficits associated with xerostomia. Salivary flow rates have been added as a criterion to the grading system, notwithstanding the weak correlation reported in most studies between the symptoms and objective functional measures. In addition to the observer-rated toxicity grading, recording of patient-reported quality of life, using validated instruments, is encouraged.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. eisbruch@umich.edu
authors.forename: Avraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eisbruch
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rhodus
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Coen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rasch
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sonis
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scarantino
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brizel
mesh_terms: D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology