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Introduction:
The most common
postradiation complication in patients with head and neck neoplasms
resulting from decreased salivary flow rate is xerostomia which affects
the quality of life of patients in a negative way. On account of that,
the application of volumetric modulated radiation therapy (VMAT) is
found to be more precise in dose application, thus the surrounding
healthy tissues can be spared from the negative influence of radiation.
The
aim of
this study was to evaluate the salivary flow rate and salivary
lactoferrin levels in patients with head and neck malign neoplasms
following radiation therapy.
Material and Methods:
The research sample consisted of 24 patients treated with different
radiation techniques, in which the salivary flow rate was measured for
one minute. Additionally, the concentration of lactoferrin was
quantitatively evaluated using biochemical analyses.
Results:
Higher average values were obtained in patients treated with a lower
dose of radiation with up to 60 Gy, especially in those treated with a
volumetric modulated radiotherapy technique. Therefore, from the results
of linear correlation between the evaluated variables of lactoferrin and
salivary flow volume in ml/min, it can be concluded that the correlation
between these two variables is statistically significant whereby the
correlation is negative with the coefficient of correlation r (24) =
-0.903; (p < 0.01).
Conclusion:
The salivary flow rate is higher in patients treated with volumetric
modulated radiotherapy, whereby the lower the dose of radiation, the
higher the values of excreted saliva per minute. Therefore it can also
be concluded that the higher values of lactoferrin are considered to
have anti-inflammatory characteristics and are indicators of
inflammation, which can be used for prevention of the salivary glands
from negative effects of the radiation therapy.
Key words:
hyposalivation,
malignant neoplasms, volumetric modulated radiotherapy, salivary
proteins, lactoferrin
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Address of correspondence:
Ass. Dr. Sonja Rogoleva Gjurovski, DMD
Dental Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences,
Goce Delcev University, Štip, North Macedonia,
Krste Misirkov, 10A, 2000, Štip
E-mail:
sonja.rogoleva@ugd.edu.mk,
Phone: 0038978687686
Copyright © 2023 by The Editorial Council of The Acta Stomatologica
Naissi
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