Quantitative radiation dose-response relationships for normal tissues in man. II. Response of the salivary glands during radiotherapy

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983 · Radiat. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3576264· OSTI ID:5661751

Mossman, K L

A quantitative dose-response curve for salivary gland function in patients during radiotherapy is presented. Salivary-function data used in this study were obtained from four previously published reports. All patients were treated wih /sup 60/Co teletherapy to the head and neck using conventional treatment techniques. Salivary dysfunction was determined at specific dose levels by comparing salivary flow rates before therapy with flow rates at specific dose intervals during radiotherapy up to a total dose of 6000 cGy. Fifty percent salivary dysfunction occurred after 1000 cGy and eighty percent dysfunction was observed by the end of the therapy course (6000 cGy). The salivary-function curve was also compared to the previously published dose-response curve for taste function. Comparisons of the two curves indicate that salivary dysfunction precedes taste loss and that the shapes of the dose-response curves are different. A new term, tissue tolerance ratio, defined as the ratio of responses of two tissues given the same radiation dose, was used to make the comparisons between gustatory and salivary gland tissue effects. Measurements of salivary gland function and analysis of dose-response curves may be useful in evaluating chemical modifiers of radiation response.

• Research Organization: Georgetown Univ. Medical Center, Washington, DC
• OSTI ID: 5661751
• Journal Information: Radiat. Res.; (United States), Vol. 95:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
RADIOTHERAPY
SIDE EFFECTS
SALIVARY GLANDS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
COBALT 60
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
FLAVOR
GAMMA RADIATION
HEAD
NECK
PATIENTS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
BODY AREAS
COBALT ISOTOPES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
GLANDS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MEDICINE
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANOLEPTIC PROPERTIES
ORGANS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOLOGY
THERAPY
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
560151* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man
550603 - Medicine- External Radiation in Therapy- (1980-)