Radiation Dose Effects on Salivary Gland Function in Head and Neck cancer patients- A Prospective Study

Radiation-induced xerostomia is a significant concern for patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of radiation dose to the parotid gland on the severity of xerostomia using the Multidisciplinary Salivary Gland Society (MSGS) questionnaire administered 6 months post-radiotherapy. The study included 36 patients who received radiotherapy for various head and neck malignancies. They were stratified based on mean parotid radiation doses: less than 15 Gy,16–25 Gy and more than 26 Gy. All patients who met the eligibility criteria were evaluated for xerostomia using the Novel Multidisciplinary Salivary Gland Society (MSGS) questionnaire 6 months post radiotherapy. Results indicated that lower radiation doses corresponded to milder symptoms of dry mouth, whereas higher doses correlated with more pronounced xerostomia. (p value − 0.0466). Mean Xerostomia scores were 44.2,66.38 and 85.4 for the subgroups receiving mean parotid radiation dose of less than 15 Gy,16–25 Gy and more than 26 Gy respectively. These findings highlight the critical role of radiation dose optimization in mitigating xerostomia and improving post-treatment quality of life for head and neck cancer patients. Future research should explore personalized radiation strategies to further minimize salivary gland damage and enhance patient outcomes.