title: Evaluation of some oral postradiotherapy sequelae in patients treated for head and neck tumors.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the oral sequelae of radiotherapy in patients treated between 1999 and 2003 for head and neck tumors. One-hundred patients (24 women, 76 men) ranging in age from 30 to 83 years (mean 59.2 years) were examined. Time since radiotherapy ranged from 1 to 72 months (mean 28 months). The total mean radiation dose received by the patients was 5,955 cGy. The evaluation protocol included anamnesis, intraoral and extraoral examination, measurement of stimulated salivary flow and salivary pH. Symptoms reported by the patients included dry mouth (68%), dysphagia (38%), and dysgeusia (30%). In 64% of the patients, the mean stimulated salivary flow rate was less than 0.7 ml/min. The mean salivary pH was 6.97 (+/- 0.714). Stimulated salivary flow increased with increasing postradiotherapy time (p < 0.05). The prevalence of mucositis was associated with higher radiation doses (p < 0.05), and the prevalence of atrophic candidiasis was related to a longer post-treatment period (p < 0.05). Two cases of recurrence of the primary tumor were detected during the study. The main effect of radiotheraphy in the head and neck region was a reduction of the salivary flow rate, even though our study demonstrated that there was a modest late improvement of the salivary flow.
authors: Stomatology Department, School of Dentistry of Bauru, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Cássia Maria Fischer
authors: CM
authors: Rubira
authors: Nádia Juliana
authors: NJ
authors: Devides
authors: Liliane Torsani
authors: LT
authors: Ubeda
authors: Antônio Geraldo
authors: AG
authors: Bortolucci
authors: José Roberto
authors: JR
authors: Lauris
authors: Izabel Regina Fischer
authors: IR
authors: Rubira-Bullen
authors: José Humberto
authors: JH
authors: Damante
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy; D016371:Cranial Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010025:Osteoradionecrosis / Q000209:etiology; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000528:radiation effects; D012472:Salivation / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012636:Secretory Rate; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology*