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

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

doi:10.1016/j.radonc.2017.09.017

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

Radiother Oncol. 2018 Jan;126(1):96-99. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2017.09.017. Epub 2017 Oct 3.

Authors

Avani D Rao¹, Stephanie Coquia², Robert De Jong², Christine Gourin³, Brandi Page⁴, Diane Latronico⁴, Samson Dah⁴, Lin Su⁴, Stephen Clarke⁴, Jeffrey Schultz⁴, Lauren M Rosati⁴, Carole Fakhry³, John Wong⁴, Theodore L DeWeese⁴, Harry Quon⁴, Kai Ding⁴, Ana Kiess⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA. Electronic address: avani.rao@jhmi.edu.
² Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
³ Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
⁴ Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.

PMID: 28985953
DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2017.09.017

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Radiation therapy; Submandibular gland; Xerostomia.

MeSH terms

Absorbable Implants
Cadaver
Humans
Hydrogels / administration & dosage*
Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
Radiation Injuries / etiology
Radiation Injuries / prevention & control*
Radiation-Protective Agents / administration & dosage*
Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / methods*
Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / adverse effects
Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / methods
Submandibular Gland / anatomy & histology*
Submandibular Gland / radiation effects*
Xerostomia / etiology
Xerostomia / prevention & control*

Substances

Hydrogels
Radiation-Protective Agents