Cancer Treatment Reviews
Volume 31, Issue 7 , Pages 546-554, November 2005

Preventing radiation induced xerostomia

  • Michael I. Koukourakis

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiotherapy – Oncology, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Tumour & Angiogenesis Research Group, P.O. Box 12, Alexandroupolis 68100, Greece
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +30 69324 80808; fax: +30 25510 30349.
    • ,
  • Vassilios Danielidis

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiotherapy – Otorhinolaryngology Clinic, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece

published online 02 November 2005.

Summary 

Radiation induced xerostomia is a frequent consequence of radiotherapy (RT) for head–neck cancer (HNC) patients, when parotid glands are included in the radiation fields. Although early appearing xerostomia may be alleviated with the use of pilocarpine, persistent chronic xerostomia affects more than 70% of HNC patients treated with post-operative or radical radiotherapy and significantly impairs the quality of life potentially cured patients. The present manuscript reviews and discusses the current technological (conformal and intensity modulated RT) and pharmacological (amifostine) developments aiming to prevent the severity and reduce incidence of both acute and late radiation xerostomia in patients with HNC.

Keywords: Head–neck cancer, Radiotherapy, Amifostine, IMRT, Xersotomia

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PII: S0305-7372(05)00128-3

doi:10.1016/j.ctrv.2005.07.006

Cancer Treatment Reviews
Volume 31, Issue 7 , Pages 546-554, November 2005

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