Submandibular salivary gland transfer for the prevention of radiation-induced xerostomia in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: 5-Year outcomes.
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.
Liu
Xue-Kui
XK
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Centre, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdon, PR China.
Su
Yong
Y
Jha
Naresh
N
Hong
Ming-Huan
MH
Mai
Hai-Qiang
HQ
Fan
Wei
W
Zeng
Zong-Yuan
ZY
Guo
Zhu-Ming
ZM
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*