title: Changes in parotid gland morphology and function in patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the morphological changes of the parotid glands in patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal tumors and the correlations with parotid function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients with nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal tumors treated with IMRT between May 2009 and January 2010 at Hokkaido University Hospital were included in this study. In the morphological assessment of the parotid glands, the sizes and computed tomography (CT) numbers of the bilateral parotid glands before and after IMRT with CT were calculated. For functional assessment of the parotid glands, we conducted the Saxon test and used a visual analog scale (VAS) for xerostomia evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reductions in saliva secretion were observed in the patients treated with IMRT for nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal tumors, and there was a significant correlation between the reduction in saliva secretion and the VAS. The reductions in the parotid gland size and CT number were larger on the ipsilateral side than on the contralateral side. The reduction in saliva secretion was not significantly correlated with the reduction in parotid gland size, but was significantly correlated with the reduction in CT number.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Morphological and functional changes of the parotid glands were observed after IMRT for nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal tumors, and preservation of the contralateral parotid glands was only partly achieved. Among the morphological changes of the parotid glands, the CT number may be considered a predictor of parotid function after radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Radiology, Center for Dental Clinics, Hokkaido University Hospital, Kita-13, Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8586 Japan.
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Obinata
authors.affiliation: Nakamura Dental Clinic, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Motoyasu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carrozzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Radiology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Iain
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Macleod
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Radiology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.affiliation: Omni Dentix, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shirai
authors.affiliation: Omni Dentix, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ito
keywords: Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT); Morphological and functional changes; Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal tumors; Parotid gland