title: Radiotherapy to the salivary glands as treatment of sialorrhea in patients with parkinsonism.
abstract: This study investigated retrospectively the long-term efficacy and safety of radiotherapy (RT) to the major salivary glands as treatment of sialorrhea in patients with parkinsonism. Twenty-eight patients received a bilateral dose of 12 Gy to the parotid and part of the submandibular glands between 2001 and 2006. Severity of sialorrhea and adverse events were assessed at 1 and 6 months post-RT and finally in the first quarter of 2007. Item 6 of the activities of daily living-section of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale was used as primary endpoint. Quality of life (QoL) pre- and post-RT was investigated using a shortened Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-8. Sialorrhea had improved significantly at 1 month post-RT and this effect was maintained for at least 1 year. Most frequent adverse events were loss of taste and a dry mouth; however, 75% of these adverse events were transient. QoL had improved significantly on the long term. The clinical global impression scores at the final follow-up showed that 80% of patients were satisfied. It was concluded that RT is an effective and safe treatment of sialorrhea on the long term in patients with parkinsonism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anna-Gerlind
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Postma
authors.forename: Mart
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heesters
authors.forename: Teus
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van Laar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012469:Salivary Glands; D012798:Sialorrhea / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome