title: Submandibular salivary gland transfer for the prevention of radiation-induced xerostomia in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: 5-Year outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our aim in this study was to investigate the value of the submandibular salivary gland transfer procedure in prevention of radiation-induced xerostomia in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, there were 70 patients, consisting of a test group (36 patients) and a control group (34 patients) in a nonrandomized fashion. In the test group, the submandibular salivary gland was transferred to submental space before radiotherapy (XRT) and shielded. Salivary gland functions were evaluated by the amount of saliva and a quality of life questionnaire before and after XRT and 3 and 60 months after XRT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 5 years, the trapping and excretion functions of salivary gland were significantly better in the test group (p = .000 and p = .000). The mean weight of saliva after XRT was heavier (1.65 g vs 0.73 g, p = .000), and the incidence of xerostomia was lower in the test group, with no difference in 5-year survival and neck nodal recurrence between the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Salivary gland transfer procedure prevents XRT-induced xerostomia and improves quality of life of patients with NPC.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Centre, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdon, PR China.
authors.forename: Xue-Kui
authors.initials: XK
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Naresh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jha
authors.forename: Ming-Huan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Hai-Qiang
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Zong-Yuan
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Zhu-Ming
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000637:transplantation*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*