Abstract
Xerostomia is a common adverse effect of radiation therapy at the head and neck area. Radiation-induced xerostomia can be severe and detrimental for the quality of life. Clinicians and radiologists have focused on the prevention of xerostomia as feasible, which has been significantly improved in the recent decades with the use of the contemporary radiation technology. However, radiation-induced xerostomia still remains one of the most devastating side effects of radiation therapy. Clinical risk factors have been identified, but the variation of its incidence and presentation has turned the focus on the investigation of parameters that would be able to predict the onset of acute or chronic xerostomia for each individual patient. Recently, potential imaging parameters and biomarkers are investigated in order for early prediction of the incidence and severity of xerostomia. Here, we compile the resulting imaging biomarkers as have been identified in the recent literature based on MRI and CT performed in correlation with radiation therapy. The identification of such biomarkers is very promising for the prevention and control of xerostomia in the head and neck radiation setting.
Highlights
IntroductionOncologic pathology can be often a greatly devastating finding with consequences in multiple aspects of the individual such as physical, psychological, social, and financial
Oncologic pathology can be often a greatly devastating finding with consequences in multiple aspects of the individual such as physical, psychological, social, and financial.The consequences can be long term, and, affecting the quality of life of the individual [1,2]
We compile the resulting imaging biomarkers as have been identified in the recent literature based on MRI and Computed Tomography (CT) performed in correlation with radiation therapy
Summary
Oncologic pathology can be often a greatly devastating finding with consequences in multiple aspects of the individual such as physical, psychological, social, and financial. The consequences can be long term, and, affecting the quality of life of the individual [1,2] The latter is the principal consideration for the multidisciplinary care team, along with the survival of the patient. Xerostomia is a very common side effect due to the destructive effect of radiation on the highly radiosensitive salivary glands. It is radiation field and dose dependent, and it can start to be noticed during the radiation therapy and long term in the everyday life of the patient. We review the current status of the role of magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography for the assessment of radiation-induced xerostomia based on specific imaging biomarkers and parameters, as reflected in the literature for the years
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