Recomendaciones clínicas del Grupo Español de Tratamiento Conservador del Cáncer de Cabeza y Cuello (GETCOCACU) para la prevención y la terapéutica de la xerostomía radioinducida

Abstract

Radiation-related xerostomia is a symptom presenting almost all patients irradiated for head and neck cancer when salivary glands are involved in the radiation field. Xerostomia causes subjective and objective manifestations strongly affecting the quality of life of the patients. Until now, the treatment has been the palliation of symptoms and the use of general measures, saliva substitutes, saliva stimulants, and little-beneficial radioprotective drugs. Conformal radiotherapy and intensity modulated techniques permit in some cases the avoidance of salivary glands irradiation with high radiotherapy doses, so turning into the best options for these patients. The prevalence of xerostomia and the inconvenient manifestations have lead the GETCOCACU to establish recommendations for the xerostomia management and treatment.