title: Effect of serum selenium levels on radiotherapy-related toxicity in patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether there is a difference in selenium levels before and after radiotherapy (RT) and to study the effects of serum selenium levels on RT-related toxicity in patients undergoing RT for head and neck cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A population of 47 consecutive patients was enrolled in the study. RT was given by conventional fractionation. RT-related acute toxicity was evaluated once a week. Blood samples were obtained before and after RT to evaluate selenium levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference between the levels of selenium before and after RT (58.09 ± 1.36 μg/l and 56.34 ± 1.11 μg/l, p-value=0.747, respectively). Grade III-IV mucositis, dysphagia, radiodermatitis, and nausea were seen in 6 (12.7%), 32 (68.2%), 24 (51.1%), and 3 (6.4%) patients, respectively. It was found that there was no statistically significant difference in the levels of selenium before and after RT, and no observed differences in regard to RT-related toxicities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The serum selenium levels do not affect RT-related toxicities.
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Erciyes University, Faculty of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey. ceroglu44@gmail.com
authors: Celalettin
authors: C
authors: Eroglu
authors: Dilek
authors: D
authors: Unal
authors: Aysun
authors: A
authors: Cetin
authors: Okan
authors: O
authors: Orhan
authors: Serdar
authors: S
authors: Sivgin
authors: Ahmet
authors: A
authors: Oztürk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D012643:Selenium