Radiation-induced xerostomia: how dry is your patient?
نویسنده
چکیده
Most patients receiving radiation therapy to the head and neck region will experience some type of oral complication. Xerostomia is one of the most severe symptoms that patients experience and may become a lifelong problem. This article reviews normal salivary function, effects of radiation therapy on oral mucosa, impact of xerostomia on quality of life, and current treatment strategies used to manage this debilitating side effect. Oncology nurses can have a significant impact on patient outcomes through diligent assessment and ongoing education regarding symptom management.
منابع مشابه
ARIX: a randomised trial of acupuncture v oral care sessions in patients with chronic xerostomia following treatment of head and neck cancer.
BACKGROUND Radiation treatment of head and neck cancer can cause chronic xerostomia which impairs patients' quality of life. The study reported here examined the efficacy of acupuncture in alleviating xerostomia symptoms especially dry mouth. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 145 patients with chronic radiation-induced xerostomia >18 months after treatments were recruited from seven UK cancer c...
متن کاملWhat are the best management strategies for radiation-induced xerostomia?
BACKGROUND The most common long-term complication of radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer is dry mouth or xerostomia. Salivary glands are radiosensitive; their destruction begins shortly after the initiation of therapy with the extent of injury directly related to the amount of radiation to which they are exposed. The subsequent xerostomia is challenging to manage, leads to multiple ...
متن کاملClinical features and preventive therapies of radiation-induced xerostomia in head and neck cancer patient: a literature review
Xerostomia or dry mouth is one of the most common and disturbing adverse effects following radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (HNC). This complication strongly increases the risk for dental caries, difficulties with chewing, swallowing and sleep disorders with significant impact on patients’ quality of life. Current treatment approaches of xerostomia are often difficult and bring in many cas...
متن کاملReader comments on radiation-induced xerostomia.
I wish to offer comments on “RadiationInduced Xerostomia: How Dry Is Your Patient?” by Susan D. Bruce, RN, BSN, OCN (Vol. 8, pp. 61–67). 1. The author cites dysphasia (multiple times) as an effect of xerostomia. Indeed, difficulty with speech can be a problem. However, dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) is never mentioned in the article. Dysphagia is an almost universal early and late effect of ...
متن کاملDry mouth: a critical topic for older adult patients.
PURPOSE Diminished salivary flow, or dry mouth impacts the oral health of many older adults, dentate and edentulous. As a result typical oral conditions can prove more challenging to both the patient's comfort and home care and the treatment selected by the clinician. This paper will review issues of dry mouth from a clinical and symptomatic perspective and will include the condition's causes, ...
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عنوان ژورنال:
- Clinical journal of oncology nursing
دوره 8 1 شماره
صفحات -
تاریخ انتشار 2004