[Xerostomia after radiotherapy. More effective treatment by a mucin-containing spray?].

INTRODUCTION

After radiotherapy (XRT) for head and neck tumors, xerostomia is observed as a chronic side effect. We investigated whether the topical use of a mucin-containing spray can help patients to cope with this problem.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 73 patients with xerostomia post XRT received a bottle of the mucin spray (Saliva medac) and a questionnaire, 59 of which were completed and returned.

RESULTS

All patients had received some form of prior treatment, which had been applied 16 times/day on average (median: 15 times/day). The mucin spray had to be used less frequently, i.e., 11 times/day (median: 5 times/day), (p < 0.001, Wilcoxon's rank test). Additionally, they reported being able to sleep significantly better when using the mucin spray (2.9 vs 3.9 in the German school grading system: 1 = very good, 6 = poor; p < 0.001, Wilcoxon's rank test). The spray was well accepted by the patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The spray was useful against xerostomia in irradiated patients.