A Vijayan1, M L Asha1, S Babu2, S Chakraborty3. 1. Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Sri Hasanamba Dental College and Hospital, Hassan, Karnataka, India. 2. Department of Surgical Oncology, Malabar Cancer Center, Thalassery, Kerala, India. 3. Department of Radiation Oncology, Malabar Cancer Center, Thalassery, Kerala, India. Electronic address: drsantam@gmail.com.
Abstract
AIMS: To evaluate the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) delivered using an extra-oral device in patients with radiation-induced xerostomia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer patients post-adjuvant (n = 26) or definitive radiotherapy (n = 4) were enrolled in this study. The TENS electrode pads were placed externally on the skin overlying the parotid glands. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected for 5 min into graduated tubes using the low forced spitting method. The TENS unit was then activated and stimulated saliva was collected for an additional 5 min. The difference between unstimulated and stimulated saliva output was measured using the paired t-test. Linear regression was used to determine factors significantly influencing the improvement in salivary output. RESULTS: Twenty-nine of 30 patients showed increased saliva flow during stimulation. A statistically significant improvement in saliva production (P < 0.05) during stimulation was noted. The mean unstimulated saliva flow was 0.056 ml/min and the mean stimulated saliva flow was 0.12 ml/min with a median increase of 0.06 ml/min. The interval to the application of TENS after radiotherapy significantly influenced the improvement in salivary flow. CONCLUSION: Extra-oral application of TENS is effective in increasing the whole salivary flow in most of the post-radiated oral cavity/oropharyngeal cancer patients with xerostomia. TENS therapy may be useful as an effective supportive treatment modality in post-radiated oral cancer patients.
AIMS: To evaluate the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) delivered using an extra-oral device in patients with radiation-induced xerostomia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancerpatients post-adjuvant (n = 26) or definitive radiotherapy (n = 4) were enrolled in this study. The TENS electrode pads were placed externally on the skin overlying the parotid glands. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected for 5 min into graduated tubes using the low forced spitting method. The TENS unit was then activated and stimulated saliva was collected for an additional 5 min. The difference between unstimulated and stimulated saliva output was measured using the paired t-test. Linear regression was used to determine factors significantly influencing the improvement in salivary output. RESULTS: Twenty-nine of 30 patients showed increased saliva flow during stimulation. A statistically significant improvement in saliva production (P < 0.05) during stimulation was noted. The mean unstimulated saliva flow was 0.056 ml/min and the mean stimulated saliva flow was 0.12 ml/min with a median increase of 0.06 ml/min. The interval to the application of TENS after radiotherapy significantly influenced the improvement in salivary flow. CONCLUSION: Extra-oral application of TENS is effective in increasing the whole salivary flow in most of the post-radiated oral cavity/oropharyngeal cancerpatients with xerostomia. TENS therapy may be useful as an effective supportive treatment modality in post-radiated oral cancerpatients.