W. Keung Leung

Preservation of quality of life after intensity‐modulated radiotherapy for early‐stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Results of a prospective longitudinal study

Xerostomia is a ubiquitous complication after conventional radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) that seriously impairs patient quality of life (QOL). The effect on QOL of parotid‐sparing intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for early‐stage NPC was assessed prospectively.

Salivary gland function and xerostomia in southern Chinese following radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is rare among Caucasians but very common among southern Chinese. No information is presently available on the relationship between salivary gland function and xerostomia in irradiated southern Chinese. Salivary gland function and xerostomia were measured in irradiated NPC patients, recently diagnosed NPC patients, and a matched control group. Stimulated whole saliva was collected from each participant and flow rate, pH and buffer capacity measured. All participants completed a multi-item dry mouth questionnaire. Comparisons were made using Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests and correlations assessed using Spearmans rank correlation coefficients. The mean saliva flow rate and pH were significantly lower and the buffer capacity impaired in irradiated NPC patients compared with the other groups (P<0.01). Significantly more irradiated NPC patients had negative impacts associated with dry mouth generally, sticky saliva, and hoarse voice (P<0.01). Subjective dry mouth symptoms and associated reduced saliva flow were also relatively common in non-irradiated participants. Salivary gland hypofunction and xerostomia were major complications in irradiated NPC patients. In irradiated and non-irradiated southern Chinese, subjective dry mouth symptoms appeared to be correlated with actual salivary gland function.

Periodontal status of adults with systemic sclerosis: case-control study.

BACKGROUND Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects connective tissue in the skin, blood vessels, and major organs of the body. This project aims to compare the periodontal status of dentate Hong Kong Chinese with and without SSc. METHODS Thirty-six non-smoking adults with SSc (one male and 35 females: aged 50.6 ± 11.7 years; free from Sjögren syndrome) attending a teaching hospital were age- and sex-matched to systemically healthy controls attending a dental hospital. Both groups had similar demographic characteristics but a lower proportion of patients with SSc were working or studying (P <0.05). Twenty-three (32%) of all participants were regular dental attendees. Orthopantomogram radiographs were taken. Participants were surveyed and periodontally examined. RESULTS Both groups had a similar number of erupted teeth, proportion of sites with detectable plaque, and mean full-mouth clinical attachment level, whereas controls had less bleeding on probing (49.3% ± 22.6% versus 78.4% ± 19.6%; P <0.001) and a shallower mean full-mouth probing depth (1.92 ± 0.44 mm versus 2.52 ± 0.58 mm; P <0.001). Radiographically, patients with SSc had wider periodontal ligament spaces (0.36 ± 0.06 mm versus 0.33 ± 0.03 mm; P <0.01). CONCLUSIONS Hong Kong Chinese adults with SSc seem to exhibit higher levels of periodontal inflammation and wider radiographic periodontal ligament spaces than age- and sex-matched controls. Future studies are warranted to further investigate any associations between these periodontal features and SSc.