The effect of surgical intervention for head and neck cancer on whole salivary flow: a pilot study

For many patients, rehabilitation and quality of life after treatment of head and neck cancer are issues that confront both them and their physicians. Various levels of xerostomia are often reported as one of the side effects of treatment. This study evaluated the effects of surgical intervention (alone) that involve major salivary glands on whole salivary flow. Five subjects with head and neck cancer who lost a submandibular gland at surgery were evaluated before and after treatment to determine resting and stimulated whole salivary flow rates. Three subjects demonstrated a decrease in resting and three a decrease in stimulated flow rates compared with pretreatment levels. Two subjects rebounded to near or above presurgery flow rates. Although a trend was identified for a decrease in resting and stimulated flow rates, the sample size was too small to statistically validate this trend. The decreases in flow rates recorded at the last test were of insufficient magnitude to elicit a complaint of xerostomia.