[Clinical analysis of xerostomia in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiation therapy].
OBJECTIVE
There is few report on the xerostomia of the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after conventional radiation therapy. Xerostomia is a serious, permanent, and ubiquitous sequelae in the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after conventional radiation therapy. It has a significant impact on the patient's quality of life. This study was designed to investigate the severity of xerostomia and its impact on the quality of life in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after conventional radiation therapy.


METHODS
One hundred and thirty-six patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, treated by conventional radiation therapy in Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, were surveyed by interview at the outpatient. A questionnaire and a visual analog scale (VAS) were used in analysis of xerostomia and xerostomia-related problems.


RESULTS
Of 136 patents, 73.5% of the patients experienced a moderate to severe degree of xerostomia. 82.4% of the patients had to sip water to facilitate speech; 92.6% of the patients had to sip water to facilitate chewing and swallowing; 91.2% of the patients changed their feeding pattern (can eat only mashed food); 61.3% of the patients had to wake up to drink water because of dry mouth; 75.0% of the patients had teeth deteriorated.


CONCLUSIONS
73.5% of the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after conventional radiation therapy experienced a moderate to severe degree of xerostomia. Xerostomia has a significant impact on the patient's speech, deglutition, sleep, and increases the morbidity rate of the tooth.
Liu
Xue-Kui
XK
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, PR China.
Zeng
Zong-Yuan
ZY
Hong
Ming-Huang
MH
Zhang
Ai-Lan
AL
Cui
Nian-Ji
NJ
Chen
Fu-Jing
FJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010315:Particle Accelerators; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology*
D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes