The use of acupuncture-like transcutaneous nerve stimulation (CODETRON) in the treatment of radiation-induced xerostomia in head and neck cancer patients treated with radical radiotherapy

Abstract

Purpose: Xerostomia is a debilitating complication from radiotherapy for some head and neck cancer patients. Clinical studies have suggested that acupuncture may improve radiation-induced xerostomia (RIX) with an increase in the median salivary flow rate and substained symptom relief. A Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulator (CODETRON) without invasive needling was developed to mimic acupuncture treatment and has been shown to be as effective in treating chronic pain. The purpose of this randomized phase I/II study was to examine the usefulness of CODETRON in treating RIX, and to determine the optimum combination of acupoints treatment that may be used to treat other patients in the future.