Evaluation of Radiation-induced Xerostomia in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinomas

Background and aims. Salivary glands are extremely susceptible to radiation injuries. The aim of this study was to evaluate radiation-induced xerostomia in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinomas, referring to Tabriz Imam Khomeini Hospital in 2005-2006. Materials and methods. Thirty patients with nasopharyngeal carcinomas, who received conventional radiotherapy, were included in the present study. The patients ’ unstimulated saliva samples were collected at three intervals, i.e. before treatment, 3 weeks after the initiation of treatment and at the end of treatment by spitting, and measured with a graduated pipette. Results. The differences in the mean values of the patients ’ salivary flow rates at three afore-mentioned intervals were statistically significant (p<0.001). Two-by-two comparison of the mean values of salivary flow rates of all the patients and of males and females, carried out separately, demonstrated statistically sig-nificant differences (p<0.0025). However, there were no statistically significant differences between males and females before treatment (p = 0.723), 3 weeks after the initiation of treatment (p = 0.724) and at the end of treatment (p = 0.595). There were no statistically significant relationships between age and a decrease in salivary flow rate in the total sample (p = 0.76, r =-0.057), in males (p = 0.96, r = 0.011) and in females (p = 0.539, r =-0.208). Conclusion. Conventional radiotherapy results in severe xerostomia in 3 weeks in patients with naso-pharyngeal carcinomas. Age and sex do not influence radiotherapy-induced xerostomia