Evaluation of radiotherapy effect on major salivary glands in head and neck cancer patients by ultrasonography

In 15 patients, the acute parotid inflammatory and degenerative changes appearing shortly after irradiation were sonographically expressed as decreased echogenicity and haziness of the gland contour. In 13 patients, examined 3 years after irradiation, reduction in the gland size as well as diffuse coarse parenchymal pattern with linear areas of echogenicity were demonstrable. This reflects the underlying fibrosis and parenchymal atrophy. Sonography may therefore help in evaluating acute and chronic radiation-induced salivary gland damage