Relationship between patient and physician-rated xerostomia and dose distribution to the oral cavity and salivary glands for head and neck cancer patients after radiotherapy

AbstractIntroduction: Xerostomia is a frequent complication after curative intended radiotherapy (RT) for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Assessment of xerostomia is commonly done by the physician. The aim of this study is to investigate the relation between patient and physician-rated xerostomia and to predict the degree of xerostomia from patients with self-reported xerostomia based on delivered doses to the oral cavity, parotid, and submandibular glands.Material and methods: During a 2-year period, consecutive HNSCC patients attending the follow-up clinic were included. All included patients had self-reported xerostomia, and completed the disease-specific EORTC QLQ-H&N35 questionnaire. The physician assessed the degree of xerostomia with the DAHANCA toxicity scale and was blinded for the EORTC score. Oral cavity, parotid, and submandibular glands (OAR) were delineated on the planning CT according to international guidelines. DVH were extracted from treatment plans. Logistic regression te...