Xerostomia Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Xerostomia, including details on dry mouth, treatment, causes, lack of saliva.

Preventing radiation induced xerostomia.

Koukourakis MI, Danielidis V

Department of Radiotherapy - Oncology, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Tumour & Angiogenesis Research Group, P.O. Box 12, Alexandroupolis 68100, Greece. targ@her.forthnet.gr

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.

Published 4 November 2005 in Cancer Treat Rev, 31(7): 546-54.
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