Effects of biodegradable hydrogel spacer injection on contralateral submandibular gland sparing in radiotherapy for head and neck cancers

Publication date: Available online 3 October 2017
Source:Radiotherapy and Oncology
Author(s): Avani D. Rao, Stephanie Coquia, Robert De Jong, Christine Gourin, Brandi Page, Diane Latronico, Samson Dah, Lin Su, Stephen Clarke, Jeffrey Schultz, Lauren M. Rosati, Carole Fakhry, John Wong, Theodore L. DeWeese, Harry Quon, Kai Ding, Ana Kiess
Xerostomia is the most common late toxicity after head and neck radiation. We demonstrate injection of a hydrogel spacer anteriorly displacing the submandibular gland. This procedure enables reduced dose to the displaced submandibular gland in cadaveric models of oropharynx cancer treated with IMRT, with potential implications in reducing xerostomia risk.



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