[Xerostomia caused by radiotherapy of patients with head and neck cancer].

Xerostomia causes great inconvenience in patients treated with irradiation for cancer of the head and neck. For all practical purposes, salivary gland tissue becomes irreversibly incapable of functioning after doses of 40 Gy (standard fractioning). Curative doses are 60-70 Gy and, therefore, xerostomia can only be limited by attempting to involve as little as possible of salivary gland tissue in the irradiation fields. The limits of the tumour should be diagnosed as exactly as possible so that the irradiation fields are not made any larger than necessary "for safety". Therapeutic techniques which involve salivary gland tissue on only one side should be elected when this is justifiable. It is important to inform the patient about caries prohylaxis and the patient's own dentist should be involved in the problem as early as possible. Prophylatic fluorine treatment should be offered to alle of the patients.