• Anne S McMillan, Edmond H N Pow, Dora L W Kwong, May C M Wong, Jonathan S T Sham, Lucullus H T Leung, and LeungW KeungWK.
• Oral Rehabilitation, Faculty of Dentistry, the University of Hong Kong, 34 Hospital Road, Hong Kong, SAR. annemcmillan@hku.hk
• Head Neck. 2006 Aug 1; 28 (8): 712-22.

BackgroundXerostomia is a ubiquitous complication after conventional radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) that seriously impairs patient quality of life (QOL). The effect on QOL of parotid-sparing intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for early-stage NPC was assessed prospectively.MethodsThirty-two patients with T1-2,N0-1,M0 NPC received IMRT. Saliva flow was measured, and the Medical Outcomes Short Form 36 (SF-36), European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) core, and EORTC head and neck module (QLQ-H&N35) questionnaires were completed at baseline and 2, 6, and 12 months after IMRT.ResultsSaliva flow recovered to at least 25% of baseline in most cases after 1 year. Physical function, fatigue, and vitality were problems at 2 months and then resolved (p < or = .002). Global health scales showed continuous improvement in QOL after treatment (p < or = .004). Xerostomia and sticky saliva were problems 2 months after treatment; thereafter, continuous improvement occurred (p < or = .001). Xerostomia scores correlated with general aspects of QOL (p < or = .044).ConclusionIMRT for early-stage disease preserved key aspects of QOL, and a reduction in xerostomia symptoms enhanced broader aspects of QOL.

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