Salivary hypofunction, the most common complication of high-dose radiation therapy
(RT) to the head and neck, has a significant impact on quality of life, and requires
careful planning of long-term dental and oral care. This report documents the results
and conclusions of an evidence-based literature review on multidisciplinary team management
of salivary hypofunction during and after RT. An update is provided on the pathophysiology
of salivary hypofunction during and after RT, and recommendations for clinical management.
The paper presents aspects managed by dental professionals (use of cholinergic agonists
and other saliva stimulants, prevention of hyposalivation-induced rampant caries,
and use of saliva substitutes), as well as the role of the radiation oncologist in
minimizing salivary gland damage (parotid-sparing RT; cytoprotectants). This summary
includes basic science, translational and clinical research topics with respect to
radiation-induced salivary hypofunction, and provides an evidence-based management
algorithm.
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
November 9,
2006
Received:
November 9,
2006
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Mosby, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
