title: Evaluation of Radiation-induced Xerostomia in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Salivary glands are extremely susceptible to radiation injuries. The aim of this study was to evaluate radiation-induced xerostomia in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinomas, referring to Tabriz Imam Khomeini Hospital in 2005-2006.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients with nasopharyngeal carcinomas, who received conventional radiotherapy, were included in the present study. The patients' unstimulated saliva samples were collected at three intervals, i.e. before treatment, 3 weeks after the initiation of treatment and at the end of treatment by spitting, and measured with a graduated pipette.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The differences in the mean values of the patients' salivary flow rates at three afore-mentioned intervals were statistically significant (p<0.001). Two-by-two comparison of the mean values of salivary flow rates of all the patients and of males and females, carried out separately, demonstrated statistically significant differences (p<0.0025). However, there were no statistically significant differences between males and females before treatment (p = 0.723), 3 weeks after the initiation of treatment (p = 0.724) and at the end of treatment (p = 0.595). There were no statistically significant relationships between age and a decrease in salivary flow rate in the total sample (p = 0.76, r = -0.057), in males (p = 0.96, r = 0.011) and in females (p = 0.539, r = -0.208).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conventional radiotherapy results in severe xerostomia in 3 weeks in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinomas. Age and sex do not influence radiotherapy-induced xerostomia.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Operative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors.forename: Narmin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.forename: Farshad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Seyyednejhad
authors.forename: Parnian
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alizadeh Oskoee
authors.forename: Siavash
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Savadi Oskoee
authors.forename: Niloofar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mofidi
keywords: Conventional radiotherapy; nasopharyngeal carcinoma; xerostomia