[Assessment of radiation injuries to the salivary glands after treatment of head and neck cancers].

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the quality of life, measured in LENT-SOMA and DISCHE scale, of patients with xerostomia as late irradiation injury.

Materials and methods: 45 head and neck cancer patients were radically irradiated receiving doses from 48 Gy to 76.8 Gy (mean: 65.1 Gy) on PTV. Patients received doses from 48 to 76 Gy on salivary gland (mean: 63.8 Gy, SD: 8). The irradiation injury of the oral cavity was assessed using DISCHE scale at the end of radiotherapy and late radiation sequels of salivary gland was assessed in 6 and 7 month after radiotherapy using DISCHE and LENT-SOMA scale. The average follow-up for this group of patients was 8 months.

Results: All patients with 6 and more points of acute reactions assessed in DISCHE scale at the end of radiotherapy have had xerostomia in follow-up period. Results measured by LENT-SOMA scale was similar to DISCHE scale.

Conclusions: Dose escalation of radiotherapy increases number of xerostomia as late irradiation injury. Both scales (LENT-SOMA and DISCHE) are similar in qualifying and quantifying of salivary gland radiation injury. Minimal therapeutic dosage prescribed on salivary gland after which irradiation injury occurred was 63 Gy.