3D MR sialography as a tool to investigate radiation-induced xerostomia: feasibility study.

Full Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether magnetic-resonance (MR) sialography can be used to investigate radiation-induced xerostomia. Preradiotherapy (pre-RT) and postradiotherapy (post-RT) MR sialographic images of the major salivary ducts (parotid and submandibular) were compared. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Magnetic-resonance sialography was performed pre-RT, and 6 weeks and 6 months post-RT on 9 patients with T1-4N0-2M0 naso- or oropharyngeal tumors, on a 1.5-T MR scanner. Patients were positioned in the scanner, using a radiotherapy immobilization mask. Image registration of the MR sialograms pre- and post-RT with each other and with the CT and consequently the dose distribution was performed. A categorical scoring system was used to compare the visibility of ducts pre-RT and post-RT. RESULTS: Good-quality MR sialographic images were obtained, and image registration was successful in all cases. The visibility score of the parotid ducts and submandibular ducts was reduced at 6 weeks post-RT, which means that the full trajectory of the salivary ducts, from the intraglandular space to the mouth cavity, was only partially visualized. For some of the parotid ducts, the visibility score improved at 6 months post-RT, but not for the submandibular ducts. The mean dose for the parotid glands was 35 Gy (1 standard deviation [SD] 3 Gy), and for the submandibular glands it was 62 Gy (SD, 8 Gy). CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional MR sialography is a promising approach for investigating xerostomia, because radiation-induced changes to the saliva content of the ducts can be visualized.

Author information

Author/s: Astreinidou, Eleftheria (E); Roesink, Judith M (JM); Raaijmakers, Cornelis P J (CP); Bartels, Lambertus W (LW); Witkamp, Theo D (TD); Lagendijk, Jan J W (JJ); Terhaard, Chris H J (CH);

Affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. E.Astreinidou(-atsign-)umcutrecht.nl

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Evaluation Studies; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics (Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Aug; vol 68 (issue 5) : pp 1310-9

Dates: Created 2007/08/06; Completed 2007/10/09;

PMID: 17482767, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.