Qualitative assessment of saliva in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is known to be associated with inevitable changes in the surrounding normal tissues causing functional compromises. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of salivary changes in Head and Neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. Sixty patients were evaluated by means of 144 tests. In resting saliva, moderate changes in hydration (>30 secs) were seen in 26% of cases while 71.3% had severe changes (>60 secs) during and after radiotherapy. Moderate changes in viscosity (frothy[bubbly) were observed in 26.4% while 66% had severe changes (sticky/frothy). Moderate changes in pH (6.0-6.6) were seen in 36% while 56.4% showed severe changes (5.0-5.8). In the stimulated saliva, moderate xerostomia (3.5ml-5ml) was seen in 12.7% patients while 84.5% showed severe xerostomia(<3.5ml). Buffering capacity was moderately reduced in 17.1% patients and severely in 77.3% during and after radiotherapy. In our patient population, those receiving radiotherapy to head and neck region showed clinically detectable xerostomia and changes in quality of saliva.