title: Preventing radiation induced xerostomia.
abstract: Radiation induced xerostomia is a frequent consequence of radiotherapy (RT) for head-neck cancer (HNC) patients, when parotid glands are included in the radiation fields. Although early appearing xerostomia may be alleviated with the use of pilocarpine, persistent chronic xerostomia affects more than 70% of HNC patients treated with post-operative or radical radiotherapy and significantly impairs the quality of life potentially cured patients. The present manuscript reviews and discusses the current technological (conformal and intensity modulated RT) and pharmacological (amifostine) developments aiming to prevent the severity and reduce incidence of both acute and late radiation xerostomia in patients with HNC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy - Oncology, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Tumour & Angiogenesis Research Group, P.O. Box 12, Alexandroupolis 68100, Greece. targ@her.forthnet.gr
authors.forename: Michael I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Koukourakis
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Danielidis
mesh_terms: D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011788:Quality of Life; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D018721:Muscarinic Agonists; D010862:Pilocarpine