Evaluation of radiation-induced xerostomia in patients with nnasopharyngeal carcinomas

Salivary glands are extremely susceptible to radiation injuries. The aim of this study was to evaluate radiation-induced xerostomia in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinomas, referring to Tabriz Imam Khomeini Hospital in 2005-2006. Thirty patients with nasopharyngeal carcinomas, who received conventional radiotherapy, were included in the present study. The patients' unstimulated saliva samples were collected at three intervals, i.e. before treatment, 3 weeks after the initiation of treatment and at the end of treatment by spitting, and measured with a graduated pipette. The differences in the mean values of the patients' salivary flow rates at three afore-mentioned intervals were statistically significant [p < 0.001]. Two-by-two comparison of the mean values of salivary flow rates of all the patients and of males and females, carried out separately, demonstrated statistically significant differences [p < 0.0025]. However, there were no statistically significant differences between males and females before treatment [p = 0.723], 3 weeks after the initiation of treatment [p = 0.724] and at the end of treatment [p = 0.595]. There were no statistically significant relationships between age and a decrease in salivary flow rate in the total sample [p = 0.76, r = -0.057], in males [p = 0.96, r = 0.011] and in females [p = 0.539, r = -0.208]. Conventional radiotherapy results in severe xerostomia in 3 weeks in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinomas. Age and sex do not influence radiotherapy-induced xerostomia

Evaluation of 99m Tc-DTPA renal scanning for localization and shielding of the kidneys in patients candidate for abdominal radiotherapy

Clinical radiation nephropathy can result in considerable morbidity and/or mortality. Renal tolerance [TD5/5] has been stated to be 20 Gy when irradiation has been delivered to both kidneys in 3-5 weeks. Therefore to minimize renal toxicity in these patients, localization and shielding of the kidneys are essential. This study was carried out to evaluate the role of 99mTc-DTPA renal scintigraphy in renal localization for perfect shielding. From April 2000 to March 2001, thirteen patients had complete history, physical examination, serum creatinine level, complete blood count, urinalysis and abdominal sonography. Then the patients were referred to nuclear medicine department. After I.V. injection of 10 mCi 99mTc-DTPA, the kidneys were localized by gamma camera and marked on skin. All patients received abdominal radiation with A-P and P-A fields with cobalt 60 machine up to 3000-5000CGY. Kidneys were shielded posteriorly after 1500cGY with 5 HVL [Half value layer] blocks. After minimum follow-up of 24 months, no evidence of increasing blood pressure, edema, proteinuria, rising in serum creatinin or changing in kidney size was found. The results show that localization of kidneys by 99mTc-DTPA is a useful, easy and safe method to shield kidneys in these patients